8 Filipino seafarers repatriated after Red Sea attack, search for 13 missing crew continues

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Tuesday that eight Filipino seafarers from the M/V Eternity C, which was attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, have safely arrived in Saudi Arabia and were repatriated back to the Philippines on Wednesday.

Upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, the rescued crew members were welcomed by government officials including Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Health Secretary Ted Herbosa.

The seafarers received PHP 150,000 in financial assistance from both the DMW's AKSYON Fund and OWWA's Emergency Repatriation Program, along with medical care from the Department of Health (DOH), reintegration assistance from TESDA, and psychosocial support services.

The Philippine government continues to hope for the whereabouts of the remaining 13 Filipino crew members who are still unaccounted for, while search efforts and monitoring continue in collaboration with international partners.

Initial investigations show that Eternity C passed through the Red Sea multiple times without submitting mandatory risk assessments or securing armed escorts, violating Philippine regulations, leading to the preventive suspension of the ship's manning agency and principal by the DMW.