Dennis Gaviola

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> — The 17 Filipino crew members of MV Galaxy Leader, who were held hostage in Yemen for more than a year, have returned to the Philippines, the Department of Migrant Workers said.</p><p>The seafarers arrived in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 via Oman Air Flight No. 843 at 9:31 p.m., Thursday.</p><p>&quot;I just want to confirm that they have arrived safe and sound. Napakabilis na naturnover sa atin,&quot; Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said.</p><p>The seafarers were welcomed by Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, and other government officials.</p><div>[[PHOTO ALBUM]]</div><p>According to Cacdac, the crew members will be allowed to spend time with their families for the next few days. They will undergo tests to ensure that they are in good health.</p><p>&quot;When the ceasefire happened in Gaza, immediately they talked to the Houthis, send the plane to collect our seafarers, and bring them to Muscat, and from Muscat nag-takeover &#x27;yung ating embassy. They had medical check-ups, review of their documents, and immediately we book them for this flight,&quot; Philippine Ambassador to Oman, Raul Hernandez said.</p><p>The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration also said the seafarers will be receiving financial aid, counseling and stress debriefing from the agency.</p><p>According to OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio, the agency will also monitor the seafarers during their recovery period. Once they are ready to go back to work, they may avail of the different programs offered by OWWA.</p><p>The Filipino seafarers were held captive after the Houthis hijacked the Israeli-owned MV Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea in November 2023.</p><p>They were kept in captivity for a total of 428 days.</p><div><strong>CONSTANT COMMUNICATION TO THEIR FAMILIES</strong></div><p>In the span of 428 days of being kept in captivity, the Filipino seafarers had constant communication with their families via video call. President Ferdinand Marcos Junior ensured that the needs of the relatives were provided.</p><p>&quot;Every time we meet, after cabinet meetings, before and during, he (President Marcos Jr.) will always ask about the families. We had a handholding effort with the families; nakilala namin sila nang husto,&quot; Cacdac said.</p><p>Cacdac shared stories of the families of the captive seafarers.</p><p>He said the wife of one of the crew members gave birth miles away from her husband. The crew member met his son for the first time after he landed at NAIA terminal 1.</p><p>&quot;The highest ranking seafarer - his wife was few months pregnant when the incident happened, and in the middle of all this, the wife called us up and said, I need a little bit of help. I am alone and pregnant, and I am about to give birth. She&#x27;s from Mindanao. First time nagkita &#x27;yung father and son,&quot; Cacdac said.</p><div><strong>BREAKDOWN OF ASSISTANCE</strong></div><p>The Department of Migrant Workers said that the Pinoy crew members were able to receive their salary while being kept in captivity. Other means of assistance, such as financial, medical, educational, and livelihood assistance, were also expected to be provided to the seafarers and their families.</p><p>&quot;The continuous payment of what we called &#x27;allotments,&#x27; payment of the salaries, double, in this case, all throughout the 428 days. We provided the necessary financial assistance to the families along the way, and we will do so again, another round of financial assistance, under the &#x27;Aksyon&#x27; fund. We had medical assistance provided to families as they were needed. Education and scholarships, that will be among the next round of assistance packages we&#x27;ll provide. There are also reintegration, livelihood packages in store for them,&quot; Cacdac shared.</p><div><strong>EXPERIENCE OF THE CREW MEMBERS</strong></div><p>Cacdac confirmed that all Pinoy crew members were safe from physical abuse after more than 400 days with the Houthi rebels.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s safe to say they need to go through medical work ups and protocols. Aside sa tatlong nagka malaria, just a miracle in itself, walang may major illness, walang physical harm. They were kept together, hindi sila pinaghiwalay,&quot; he said.</p><p>In the meantime, the seafarers will make time for their families. Afterwards, they will undergo medical examinations to ensure that they are in good condition.</p><p>&quot;They will be boarded on flights; they live all across the country. Ito kasi ay reuniting them with their families, so we are giving them time to be with each other,&quot; Cacdac added.</p><p>&quot;Ngayon nakita namin na kasama na nila &#x27;yung mga mahal nila sa buhay, nakita namin &#x27;yung saya at galak sa kanilang mga mata at mga puso,&quot; Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said, as he also welcomed the arrival of the group.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABTdJfH0PrIOERM0&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script>

<p>The 17 Filipino crew members of MV Galaxy Leader, who were held hostage in Yemen for more than a year, have returned to the Philippines, the Department of Migrant Workers said.</p>

The 17 Filipino crew members of MV Galaxy Leader, who were held hostage in Yemen for more than a year, have returned to the Philippines, the Department of Migrant Workers said.

17 Filipino seafarers held hostage in Yemen back in PH

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17 Filipino seafarers held hostage in Yemen back in PH

ABS-CBN News

Published January 24, 2025 12:30 AM PHT

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Updated January 24, 2025 06:54 AM PHT

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