A senior official here has confirmed that nine out of eleven crew members of a sunken ship currently held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels are Filipino nationals.
Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega confirmed that nine Filipinos are currently being held. “I do not want to use the term hostage,” he told AFP adding “At least we know they are alive.”
De Vega also ruled out any direct negotiations with the Houthis. “We’re not going to talk directly with the Houthis. We’re going to seek help from friendly countries,” he said.
The seafarers were part of the crew aboard the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier MV Eternity C, which was attacked and sunk by the Houthis in the Red Sea on July 7, 2025.
The incident highlights the growing risk faced by maritime workers. Filipinos make up a significant portion of the global shipping workforce.
Manila’sannouncement comes after Jeddah-based Arab News reported that the Iran-backed Houthis had released video footage Monday showing missing crew members from the Eternity C and Magic Seas cargo ships.
Human Rights Watch last week accused the Houthis of unlawfully detaining the mariners, calling their actions against civilian ships potential “war crimes.” The United States has gone further, directly accusing the Houthis of “kidnapping.”
AFP, citing the EU’s Operation Aspides naval task force, reported that 15 of the 25 people aboard the Eternity C remain unaccounted for — with four presumed dead.
Manila’s authorities remain in close coordination with international partners, working diplomatic channels to press for the release and repatriation of the Filipino sailors.
With tension still high in the region and the Houthis’ threats continuing, the fate of the Filipino crew will test both international diplomacy and maritime security measures in the Red Sea.