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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gov't exhausts all diplomatic means for captive seafarers' release—DFA

Gov't exhausts all diplomatic means for captive seafarers' release—DFA

Published Nov 25, 2023 12:01 pm

The Philippine government is using all “diplomatic means” possible for the safe and eventual release of some 17 Filipino seafarers held captive by the Yemeni rebel group Houthi in the Red Sea.

In a news forum in Quezon City, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega assured that several countries are exhausting diplomatic efforts in ensuring the release of the hostages of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship.

“We’re using diplomatic [means] with various countries… there is no issue of paying ransom – this is a political gesture; it’s not the first time they’ve done it. In previous occasions, our seamen have always eventually been released so we’re confident about this. It’s only a matter of time,” the official explained during a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday, Nov. 25.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier confirmed reports that 17 of the 25 crewmen taken by the Yemeni rebels are Filipinos. Some other nationals were Ukrainians, Bulgarians, and Mexicans.

“Now, we see that their real purpose they said is to indicate their support for the Palestinians. Their message to all countries is that we should be opposing the Israeli actions in Gaza,” De Vega added.

The Houthi group earlier said it was on the lookout for Israeli vessels in the commercially vital waters of the Red Sea as the group also launched a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since October.

The Galaxy Leader cargo ship was supposedly targeted because it was believed to be Israeli-owned even though the operator was a Japanese company.

Still, the Marcos administration expressed its optimism that the Filipino hostages will be released soon even as Houthi is adamant in its solidarity with Palestinian militant group Hamas and its ongoing war with Israel.

De Vega himself sees the link between the hostage-taking issue by the Yemeni rebel group and the current truce between Israel and Hamas that led to the initial release of hostages from the Gaza Strip.

He said that the release of Filipino Jimmy Pacheco, one of the two Filipinos believed to be taken captive by Hamas, was done because of the DFA’s diplomatic representations.

“We particularly thank State of Qatar for this move. So, just to emphasize, the DFA has been successful; it also led to the early departure of our Filipinos from Gaza – 111 have left and then there maybe as many as 10 leaving this weekend,” he added.

The official urged the public to have faith in the agency’s efforts to bring home the Filipinos.

“You saw with Mr. (Gelienor ) Pacheco that because of the standing we have and our strong bilateral relations with each country, we are granted certain favors or concessions or nice gestures which we truly appreciate,” he said.

Related Tags

diplomatic ties Department of Foreign Affairs Filipino seafarers Houthi rebels Eduardo De Vega
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