President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured Filipino seafarers on board the MV Tutor recently attacked by Houthi rebels that the government is exhausting all remedies to bring them to safety as soon as possible.
“Sa ating mga kasama na Filipino seafarers na nakasakay nung MV Tutor na binomba at ngayon ay hindi malaman ang gagawin ay mayroon – lahat ng maaring gawin ay ginagawa na namin,” President Marcos said in a video message on Friday.
President Marcos added the government is now working closely with the UK Maritime Trade Operations and is already looking for ways to safely transfer the Filipino seafarers to Djibouti where help is underway.
President Marcos stressed the government will find ways to bring them back home.
“Kaya’t patuloy ang aming pag-hanap ng tulong sa ating mga kaibigan para madala na kayo sa Djibouti,” he said.
Some Filipinos were on board the Greek-owned and Liberia-flagged freighter, MV Tutor when Houthi rebels attacked their vessel while traversing the Red Sea on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) condemned the attack and said the Philippine government will take all necessary measures to secure the safety and well-being of the Filipino crew on board.
The DFA also called on the UN member states to protect the human rights of seafarers. PND
