9 out of 10 seafarers captured by Houthis are Filipinos: Manila confirms

Manila: A senior official here has confirmed that nine out of ten crew members of a sunken ship currently held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels are Filipino nationals.

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.

On Tuesday, Manila said Tuesday it will seek help from “friendly countries” to secure the release of nine Filipino sailors being held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

The announcement 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.

The group claimed in a statement that it had “rescued” the sailors.

But international criticism is growing.

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.”

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.

“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.

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.

The MV Eternity C, managed by a Greek company, was attacked with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades by Houthi militants off the coast of Yemen.

The ship, like many others in the area, was not directly connected to Israel— it was en route to Israel’s Eilat port to load fertiliser, but it had recently delivered humanitarian aid to Somalia.

As the attacks caused the ship to sink, the crew was forced to abandon the vessel. While ten were rescued in a private operation, ten others (nine Filipinos and one foreign crewmember) fell into Houthi custody.

The Houthis released a video showing these sailors alive, contacting their families, but they remain detained.

Since late 2023, the Yemen-based, Iran-backed Houthis have launched a campaign of attacks on commercial ships transiting the Red Sea, claiming it is an act of solidarity with Palestinians amid the war in Gaza.

Recently the Houthis escalated their campaign, threatening to target any vessel or company with business ties to Israel.

In reality, many ships attacked had no ties to Israel, causing disruption to one of the world’s most vital maritime trade routes and endangering multinational crews—including numerous Filipinos.

The Philippine government, led by Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega, has stated that Manila will not engage in direct negotiations with the Houthis.

Instead, they are seeking assistance from “friendly countries” to facilitate the safe release of the sailors.

International organisations, including the EU’s Operation Aspides naval task force, are also involved in monitoring and supporting efforts for crew safety.

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.