MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) urged Filipino seafarers to avoid sailing to the Red Sea while the situation remains volatile, due to the recent attacks on vessels plying the route.
“Hinihikayat natin ang ating mga kababayang tripulante na sana ay tumanggi munang lumayag sa Red Sea habang nananatiling mapanganib ang sitwasyon,” DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro told reporters on Monday.
In her first press briefing with DFA reporters as Foreign Affairs Secretary, Lazaro said that the DFA is closely coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and relevant Embassies and Consulates in the Middle East, most especially in Riyadh, Jeddah, Manama, Muscat, Yemen and even in London.
According to Lazaro, such coordination is to ascertain the condition of the Filipino seafarers affected by the attacks on the M/V Eternity C.
“Sa ngayon, walo (8) sa 21 Pilipinong tripulanteng sakay ng Eternity C ang nailigtas na. Patuloy rin po tayong nakikipag-ugnayan sa ating mga kaibigang pamahalaan, lalung-lalo na sa Saudi Arabia at sa UK, at pati na rin sa UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) at International Maritime Organization (IMO),” Lazaro stated.
She mentioned that another vessel, the M/V Magic Seas was attacked in the Red Sea last week, with 17 Filipino seafarers on board. All of them were rescued through the assistance of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government, Lazaro added.
Lazaro reiterated that the DFA will continue to ensure the rights, safety and decent conditions for all Filipino seafarers.
