In a television interview, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Eduardo de Vega said although it is not the first time that there were Filipino seafarers who were taken hostage, they are still concerned, noting that it could be connected to the ongoing conflict between the Hamas group and the Israel government.
“May 17 na Pilipino ayon sa manning agency… kasama iba’t ibang dayuhan,” he said.
“Nababahala tayo rito. This is not the first time na may na-hostage na ganyan. Meron itong koneksiyon sa giyera ngayon sa Hamas at Israel dahil tinarget nila itong bapor na ito dahil Israeli-owned daw although Japanese ‘yung company,” he added.
But De Vega said the hostage takers committed that they would spare foreign hostages from harm.
Aboard the ship, which was seized by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in a crucial Red Sea shipping route, were 25 crew members, including Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Mexican and Romanian.
The ship is operated by Japanese company Nippon Yusen K.K.
In a statement, the Houthis said the seizure of the vessel is in support of the Palestinians who were being “massacred” by Israel.
They threatened to continue hijacking ships related to Israel, noting that no vessel should engage with Israel in the Red Sea.