Jamaine Punzalan

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<p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— A Filipino seafarer has been reported missing after two missiles hit a tugboat in the Strait of Hormuz, which had come under attack since Iran blocked the strategic waterway in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.</p><p>The family of 46-year-old seafarer George Francis Miranda said they were informed by AD Ports Group, the logistics company he works for, that he went missing after the missile attack on UAE-flagged tug Mussafah 2 on March 6.</p><p>The Filipino motorman at oiler from Capalonga, Camarines Norte last communicated with his family on March 5, when he sent a video for his 7-year-old child and told his family that the tugboat was in a dangerous area, his wife Chriz said.</p><p>The tugboat had been sent to assist the container ship Safeen Prestige, which had been stranded in the Strait of Hormuz after it was struck by a missile two days earlier.</p><p>Mrs. Miranda said her husband told her that he and other crew members of Mussafah 2 were initially unaware that they were heading to a dangerous area because they had been told that they were going instead to Ras Al-Kaimah, a port city in the United Arab Emirates.  </p><p>She said a human resources officer called her on March 6 to notify her that an “incident” had occurred involving the tugboat, but supposedly refused to give more details. She said she had not received any other update on her husband since then.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17731136652561773113662389.png" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screenshot of George Francis Miranda’s message to his wife Chriz. Miranda family</em></span></span></span></div><p>She appealed for government help to get clearer information on the seafarer, which remained scarce despite a visit by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on the family last Sunday.  </p><p>Mrs. Miranda said the last message her husband had sent their family was: “Lahat ng ginagawa ko, sakripisyo para sa inyo.”</p><p>In a separate statement, the Department of Migrant Workers said it has already coordinated with the family of Miranda to provide necessary assistance.</p><p>&quot;Our team a few days ago had already visited the family’s home and assured them of our full support during these difficult times while we await the results of the search and rescue at sea,” Secretary Hans Cacdac said.</p><p>DMW also said approximately 6,400 Filipino seafarers on vessels in the region have been monitored and marked safe, while it also continues to keep track of ships carrying Filipino crew near the Strait of Hormuz</p><p>The International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Friday said four people were killed when the Mussafah 2 was struck.</p><p>Indonesia announced Sunday that a vessel whose characteristics and last known position matched those of the Mussafah 2 sank two days earlier, but with a different toll.</p><p>Jakarta reported three Indonesian crew members missing, one injured Indonesian survivor and four survivors of other nationalities.</p><p>The strait normally sees 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas transit it, but tanker traffic there has dropped by 90 percent in a week, according to analysis firm Kpler, which operates the MarineTraffic platform.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/2/doe-calls-for-emergency-meeting-oil-prices-to-go-up-due-to-closure-of-strait-of-hormuz-0950">DOE calls for emergency meeting, oil prices to go up due to closure of Strait of Hormuz</a></div><p>Drone and missile attacks claimed by Iran&#x27;s Revolutionary Guards are not always confirmed by independent sources -- some are confirmed only after several days, and the vessels involved are not always identified. Casualty tolls can vary.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/3/energy-infrastructure-emerges-as-war-target-lifting-prices-0918">Energy infrastructure emerges as war target, lifting prices</a></div><p>Iran exports its own oil via the Strait of Hormuz and its intentions remain unclear.</p><p>A Revolutionary Guards general warned on March 2 that Iran would  <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/3/iran-guards-will-burn-any-ship-trying-to-pass-through-hormuz-general-0746">&quot;burn any ship&quot; </a>attempting to cross the strait and block all Gulf oil exports.</p><p>But Iran&#x27;s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday it had &quot;no intention&quot; of closing the Strait of Hormuz. </p><p>US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday it would escort merchant ships attempting to transit the strait &quot;as soon as it&#x27;s reasonable to do it&quot;.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/5/us-working-on-plan-to-secure-strait-of-hormuz-white-house-says-0813">US working on plan to secure Strait of Hormuz, White House says</a></div><p>French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday he was seeking to build a coalition to secure the &quot;sea lanes essential to the global economy&quot; in the region.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/3/mideast-war-risks-sending-global-economy-into-stagflation-0847">Mideast war risks sending global economy into stagflation</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/10/trump-vows-iran-war-will-end-very-soon-0946">Trump vows Iran war will &#x27;end very soon&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="827" height="465" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VZZIYo_f6E8" title="US working on plan to secure Strait of Hormuz, White House says | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <iframe width="726" height="408" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AcEQU9ypUg0" title="Ships told: Passage through Strait of Hormuz &#x27;forbidden&#x27; | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>A Filipino seafarer has been reported missing after two missiles hit a tugboat in the Strait of Hormuz, which had come under attack since Iran blocked the strategic waterway in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.</p>

A Filipino seafarer has been reported missing after two missiles hit a tugboat in the Strait of Hormuz, which had come under attack since Iran blocked the strategic waterway in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.

Family says Filipino seafarer missing after tugboat attack in Strait of Hormuz

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Family says Filipino seafarer missing after tugboat attack in Strait of Hormuz

Jayson San Fernando,

ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse

Published March 10, 2026 10:38 AM PHT

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Updated March 10, 2026 06:45 PM PHT

Read More:

Seafarer

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Strait of Hormuz

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