Camille Naredo

Government officials welcome the eight Filipino seafarers who returned to the Philippines on July 16, 2025 after surviving an attack by Houthi rebels on their Greek-managed vessle, the MV Eternity C, earlier this month. Lyza Aquino, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

MV Eternity C

Lyza Aquino

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752685904479viber_image_2025-07-17_00-59-20-354.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Government officials welcome the eight Filipino seafarers who returned to the Philippines on July 16, 2025 after surviving an attack by Houthi rebels on their Greek-managed vessle, the MV Eternity C, earlier this month. Lyza Aquino, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Government officials welcome the eight Filipino seafarers who returned to the Philippines on July 16, 2025 after surviving an attack by Houthi rebels on their Greek-managed vessle, the MV Eternity C, earlier this month. <em>Lyza Aquino, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Eight Filipino seafarers from the Greek-managed vessel MV Eternity C are back in the Philippines after surviving an attack by the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea earlier this month.</p><p>They arrived safely at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City at 9:02 p.m. on Wednesday via flight SV870 from Saudi Arabia.</p><p>They were welcomed by government officials including Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Health Secretary Ted Herbosa.</p><p>The seafarers were among the 21 Filipino crew members onboard the MV Eternity C when it came under attack on July 7 and 8.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/15/8-filipino-seafarers-from-mv-eternity-c-safe-in-saudi-arabia-after-houthi-attack-1019">READ: 8 Filipino seafarers from MV Eternity C safe in Saudi Arabia after Houthi attack</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/13/pinoy-seafarers-undergoing-medical-attention-after-houthi-attack-on-mv-eternity-c-dmw-2121">READ: Pinoy seafarers undergoing medical treatment after Houthi attack -- DMW</a></div><p>&quot;Walo pa lamang ang nakakauwi. Pero inaasahan natin sana &#x27;no, meron tayong pag-asa patungkol doon sa iba pang naiwan [seafarers] But sa ngayon, pasasalamat sa ligtas na pagpapauwi ng walong tripulante sa Eternity C,&quot; said Cacdac.</p><p>&quot;Ngayon, eight ang bumalik. So, 13 unaccounted for, but we are … making an effort to account for the 13. At this stage, hindi ko lang mabigay ang detalye, but what I can tell you is that we are in constant communication with the 13 families, and we&#x27;re providing them the information as they come in on a day-to-day basis,&quot; he added.</p><p>&quot;There&#x27;s a lot of it or some of it that cannot be disclosed for security reasons, but rest assured, we are monitoring the situation and are carefully accounting for.&quot;</p><p>Each of the repatriated seafarers received PHP 75,000 in financial assistance from both the DMW’s AKSYON Fund and OWWA’s Emergency Repatriation Program.</p><p>Additional support from other agencies included medical care from the Department of Health (DOH), reintegration assistance from TESDA, and psychosocial support services. </p><p>TESDA Deputy Director General Felizardo Colambo shared that free skills training and certifications are being offered not only to the seafarers but also to their family members to support sustainable livelihood.</p><p>The eight seafarers were emotional as they reunited with their families at the airport.</p><p>&quot;There is fortitude in the Filipino seafarer… determination to survive. We saw that today. They are all in good spirits… We saw a very tearful reunion with their families,&quot; said Cacdac.</p><p>Herbosa reassured the public of continued health support, especially once the seafarers return to their provinces.</p><p>&quot;Sabi nga ni Sec. Hans, magkasama kami dahil utos ng ating pangulo na walang maiiwan… sa kanilang shipping company may insurance sila pero pag-uwi sa probinsya, nandiyan ang DOH facilities na susuporta sa kanila at kanilang pamilya,&quot; Herbosa said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>13 STILL MISSING</strong></div><p>The DMW said the government is working urgently with international partners to determine the whereabouts of the 13 other Filipino crew members and ensure their safety.</p><p>&quot;Wala pa tayong makukumpirma kung sa number of casualties o kung talagang may hawak ’yung mga Houthi sa ilan sa kanila… Prinsipyo natin, kung meron mang hawak sila, at least alam nating buhay,&quot; said Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Eduardo De Vega.</p><p>The DFA is in contact with diplomatic partners, including the governments of Oman and Qatar, to reach out to groups with possible links to the Houthis.</p><p>Cacdac confirmed that home visits were made to the families of the missing crew.</p><p>&quot;Since day one, si Pangulo, simple lang ang instruction sa amin: take care of the families. Ginagawa namin ang lahat para sa kapakanan nila,&quot; he said, assuring that the government would not stop until the fate of all crew members is fully known.</p><p>While there are international reports suggesting the search and rescue efforts have ended, the DMW clarified that operations are ongoing in coordination with the shipowner and international maritime partners.</p><p>&quot;It did not necessarily mean na na-call off yung search… Rest assured, we are still making an effort to account for and find the remaining seafarers,&quot; Cacdac stated.</p><p>The attack reportedly happened between the night of July 7 and the early morning of July 8. Survivors were rescued at sea and taken to Jizan Port in Saudi Arabia.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>GOVERNMENT SUPPORT</strong></div><p>The repatriation of the seafarers comes after coordinated efforts by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah.</p><p>OWWA Administrator PY Caunan confirmed that repatriation documents were fast-tracked with no fees and that returning seafarers were escorted personally by Labor Attaché Fidel Macauyag from Jeddah.</p><p>&quot;Walang singil sa mga dokumento. Agad-agad na pinroseso ang travel documents… in-escort ng ating Labor Attaché si Fidel Macauyag,&quot; Caunan said.</p><p>DSWD, through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, will also provide further financial and psychosocial aid to the returning seafarers and the families of those still missing.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wSVjYxD44Pk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Eight Filipino seafarers from the Greek-managed vessel MV Eternity C are back in the Philippines after surviving an attack by the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea earlier this month.</p>

Eight Filipino seafarers from the Greek-managed vessel MV Eternity C are back in the Philippines after surviving an attack by the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea earlier this month.

8 Filipino seafarers from MV Eternity C back in PH; 13 more 'unaccounted for'

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8 Filipino seafarers from MV Eternity C back in PH; 13 more 'unaccounted for'

Lyza Aquino,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 17, 2025 01:14 AM PHT

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Filipino seafarers

MV Eternity C

Department of Migrant Workers

DMW

Department of Health

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Houthi rebels

Red Sea

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