THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said the four Filipino seamen aboard a ship seized by Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz last Saturday will be released “soon.”
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said the seized crew members of the container ship MSC Aries have been told by their captors that they will be “released soon, all of them, all of the seafarers.”
De Vega said the four Filipino seafarers were allowed to call their families in the Philippines to inform them that they and the rest of the crew members are fine and are being fed by their captors.
“Last night at around 11 p.m. they were allowed by (the) Iranians to call their families. Each of them were able to speak for an hour, each of them,” he said.
De Vega said he was set to meet with Iranian Ambassador to Manila Yousef Esmaeil Zadeh later Tuesday to discuss the plight of the four Filipinos.
On Saturday, the DFA said no efforts will be spared to have the four Filipino seafarers released and be with their families.
This is the fourth incident since last year where Iran or its allied Houthi rebels seized or attacked vessels in the waters of the Middle East where there are Filipino seafarers.
The first was on November 19 when the bulk carrier MV Galaxy Leader was seized by the Houthis. There are 17 Filipinos in the MV Galaxy Leader
The second was the seizure last year of the oil tanker MV Saint Nikolas, which had 18 Filipino crew members. Twelve of the 18 have been released but six are still being held.
The third was in March this year when two Filipino seamen out of the 13 onboard the cargo vessel True Confidence were killed following a Houthi missile attack in the Red Sea.
The Houthi is part of the so-called “axis of resistance” in the Middle East, supported and armed by Iran to oppose Israel in the region.
The group has launched long-range missiles and attack drones on Israel since the Jewish state launched an offensive against Hamas following its October 7 attack that killed
Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday said it will push for the classification of the Strait of Hormuz as a “high-risk area” (HRA).
In a statement, DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said hey will make the necessary representations with the International Bargaining Forum (IBF) for the classification of the Strait of Hormuz as an HRA.
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of our Filipino seafarers is not just a priority, it’s our mission. The DMW is committed to working with various stakeholders in the global maritime industry to achieve this crucial designation of the Strait of Hormuz as an HRA,” said Cacdac.
To note, the designation as a high-risk area mandates an increased vigilance and security patrols by regional authorities, mandatory reporting requirements for vessels transiting the area, and recommendations for alternative routes, if necessary.
Additionally, Filipino seafarers will be provided of their “right to refuse” sailing (RTRS) to areas deemed high-risk or war-like zones.
“By spearheading the push for this high-risk area designation, we are taking a proactive stance to encourage stricter enforcement of security measures and provide our seafarers with the necessary safeguards during their passage,” stressed Cacdac. — With Gerard Naval
