AFTER more than a year of captivity, all 17 Filipino seafarers held hostage by Houthi rebels in Yemen are set to return to the Philippines, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
“It is with utmost joy that, after more than a year of captivity in Yemen, I announce the safe release of all seventeen Filipino seafarers, together with the rest of the crewmembers of M/V Galaxy Leader,” Marcos said in an official statement.
The President confirmed that the seafarers are now under the care of the Philippine Embassy in Muscat, Oman, and will soon be reunited with their families in the country.
Marcos extended his gratitude to His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan of Oman, and the Omani government for mediating the negotiations that led to the crew's safe release.
He also commended the efforts of Philippine government agencies and private organizations, who worked for over 429 days to secure this outcome.
Hostage
The cargo vessel M/V Galaxy Leader was hijacked by Houthi rebels near Hodeidah, Yemen in November 2023 while en route to India.
Its 25 crewmembers included 17 Filipinos, along with other nationalities such as Bulgarians, Ukrainians, Mexicans, and Romanians.
The ship, linked to an Israeli company but operated by Japan’s Nippon Yusen K.K., was targeted due to its perceived association with Israel amid the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict.
The rebels earlier assured that they would not harm their hostages, but asked an end to the war in Gaza before they will release the ship and the seafarers.
The Philippine and Japanese governments have condemned the incident.
Magna carta for seafarers
Marcos underscored the importance of the incident in highlighting the need for the recently signed Republic Act No. 12021, or the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.
Marcos signed the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers into law on September 23, 2024, prioritizing the protection of Filipino seafarers’ rights and welfare.
The law ensures just working conditions, access to education and training, protection from discrimination, and rights to fair treatment and safe travel. It also addresses deficiencies flagged by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in training and accreditation, which threaten the global employability of Filipino seafarers, particularly in Europe.
The law benefits around 500,000 Filipino seafarers, including provisions for legal and medical assistance, communication access, and fair employment contracts. The measure also seeks to prevent exploitation by regulating manning agencies and mandating standardized employment contracts. (JGS/VoxPop Philippines)