Marcos orders aid for PH seafarers’ kin after vessel sinks in Red Sea

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the provision of necessary assistance to the families of the Filipino seafarers affected by the sunken MV Eternity C, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said on Thursday.

The bulk carrier, which was sailing under the flag of Liberia and carrying 22 crew members, was attacked by Houthi rebels late in the evening of July 7 in the Red Sea.

Twenty-one of the crew, including the captain, are Filipinos, and five have already been rescued.



READ: Vessel attacked by rebels in Red Sea sinks, 5 PH seafarers rescued – DMW

“Yesterday morning, we had a meeting together with the families because the President’s number one directive to the DMW [Department of Migrant Workers] is to do everything to provide assistance and protection — 'Take care of the families,' as our President said,” Cacdac said at a Palace briefing.

The five rescued Filipinos have been transferred to an undisclosed location.

Cacdac also said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations is still verifying the identities of the three reported fatalities from the incident.

Moreover, the license of the manning agency of the seafarers has also been suspended, and further investigation will be conducted, said Cacdac. /das

 

(2025/07/10-14:16)

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