(Unsplash)

OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino expressed her condolences to the family of a Filipino sailor who was killed after Houthi rebels from Yemen attacked a bulk cargo carrier in the Red Sea.

"Lubos po ang aking pakikidalamhati sa mga naulila ng ating seafarer. Nakakailang atake na ang Houthi rebels sa mga cargo vessels na halos laging may lulan na mga Pinoy,” Magsino said in a statement on Monday, June 18.

(My condolences to the family of our seafarer. There have been several attacks by the Houthi rebels on cargo vessels that are almost always carrying Filipinos.)

“Nakakalungkot na laging nadadamay ang mga kababayan natin, na nais lamang magtrabaho para sa pamilya, sa mga sigalot at acts of terrorism,” she added.

(It is sad that our countrymen, who only want to work for their family, are always affected by conflicts and acts of terrorism.)

The White House in United States (US) has confirmed Monday that a Filipino sailor was killed when the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk cargo carrier M/V Tutor was attacked by the Houthis on June 12.

The vessel has an all-Filipino crew of 22 seafarers, with 21 of them rescued from the ship on June 14.

The sailor’s death is the third reported killing of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from attacks of the Iran-backed Houthis. 

As reported by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), two Filipino seafarers died during a Houthi missile strike on a commercial ship last March.

The White House has condemned these brutal attacks as “pure terrorism”.

With the volatility of situations in countries where OFWs are situated, Magsino said she vows to “push harder” for the passage of her pending bills that aim to protect Filipinos working abroad.

“Patuloy ko pong isusulong ang mga batas upang mabigyan ng proteksyon at kalinga ang lahat ng ating OFWs at ang patuloy na panawagan na palakasin ang mga bilateral labor agreements sa mga bansang high-risk ang ating mga OFWs”, the lawmaker said.

(I will continue to push for laws to provide protection and protection to all our OFWs and the continuous call to strengthen bilateral labor agreements in high-risk countries for our OFWs.)

Magsino is also calling for the coordination of government agencies with the proper authorities to ensure that the body of the slain sailor will be given a proper burial in the Philippines.