The final group of Filipino seafarers from the MV Magic Seas returned to the Philippines on Saturday night, completing the repatriation of all 17 crew members following a missile attack by Houthi rebels.
The 11 seafarers arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on July 12 and were met by officials from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
“You are skilled and brave. We have the Aksyon Fund to provide you with help and support, but that’s not what matters most. What matters is that you made it home safely,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said upon their arrival.
Six of their fellow crew had landed at Clark International Airport in Pampanga the night before, following a harrowing ordeal at sea.
The MV Magic Seas was struck by a missile while traversing the Red Sea on July 6, prompting the crew composed of Filipinos, Vietnamese, and Romanians to abandon ship before it sank.
The seafarers received medical evaluations, psychosocial support, and training vouchers from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Meanwhile, attention has shifted to the MV Eternity C, another vessel attacked by Houthi rebels while sailing the same waters.
The ship carried 21 Filipino crew members, of whom eight have been rescued and 13 remain missing.
DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia over the weekend said the agency is verifying reports that three of the missing sailors were killed in the attack.
“We strongly believe that they are still alive because their companions who survived there for more than 48 hours, floating, were rescued, and hopefully, we can also save most of those who are missing,” he assured.
He cautioned that the reports remain unconfirmed and expressed optimism that the rest are still alive.
Authorities plan to debrief the rescued seafarers to determine the number of casualties and clarify what transpired during the assault.
Olalia said coordination is ongoing with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense to sustain search and rescue efforts.
“They are already speaking with their foreign counterparts there so that the search efforts can be sustained and we can find our additional missing seafarers,” he said.
Olalia, amid reports that the Houthis may have captured some of the seafarers, admitted uncertainty over how many were taken.
The DMW said both the MV Magic Seas and MV Eternity C were targeted by Houthi rebels using small boats while passing through the Red Sea near Yemen.
The attacks were part of an ongoing campaign by the rebels, who claim to be striking in solidarity with Palestinians amid the conflict in Gaza.
