Manila Verifying Reports That Houthis Abducted Crew of MV Eternity C

Jerusalem, 10 July, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Manila (PNA) – The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers is working on verifying reports that Houthi forces may have kidnapped several crew members of MV Eternity C after attacking and sinking the vessel while traversing the Red Sea.

In a Palace briefing on Thursday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that five Filipino crew and an Indian armed guard, out of the 22 crew of MV Eternity C, have been rescued from the waters, while the rest are considered missing.

“We are fully aware of the at least two statements that have come out. The first of course is the Houthi statement that they have several, quote-unquote, of the Eternity Sea crew. And the second is the statement of the United States that they denounced this particular action of taking in the crew as a kidnapping action,” Cacdac said.

“But in either case, we are still yet to confirm for ourselves whether indeed the Houthis have the rest of the crew. So this is something that is yet subject to confirmation. And we’re working closely with [Foreign Affairs] Sec. Tess Lazaro and the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] along these lines.”

In a statement posted on X, the US Embassy in Yemen denounced the Houthi attack on MV Eternity C, as it called for the immediate release of the kidnapped seafarers.

The US Embassy said that the Houthis continue to show the world why the US was right in labeling them a terrorist organization.

“After killing their shipmates, sinking their ship, and hampering rescue efforts, the Houthi terrorists have kidnapped many surviving crew members of the Eternity C. We call for their immediate and unconditional safe release,” the post read.

The bulk carrier MV Eternity C was attacked on July 7 by Houthi rebels using a drone boat and ballistic missiles while heading toward the port of Eilat in southern Israel.

The ship sank early on July 8, about 50 nautical miles west of Hodeidah, Yemen.

Cacdac said aside from the DFA, they are also working with the Philippine defense attaché in Bahrain and international maritime security partners to gather reliable information and coordinate any possible rescue efforts.

Currently, Cacdac said the Philippine government is focusing on the rescue efforts of the 16 missing Filipino seafarers, while also verifying reports from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) that there are fatalities.

He said the licensed manning agency (LMA) and the ship’s principal have been suspended pending a full investigation on the alleged violation of DMW’s strict safety protocols prohibiting Filipino seafarers from boarding ships transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Meanwhile, Cacdac said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered a whole-of-government effort to support the families of the missing crew members, including financial aid, medical assistance, and psychosocial support.