By Marita Moaje
MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it is still validating reports that three Filipino crew members of MV Eternity C may have died during the Houthi attack that sank the ship in the Red Sea.
In a radio interview on Thursday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac added that one Filipino crew is also missing.
“Merong tatlo, na ayon sa ulat ay naiwan dun sa barko. Ito yung ulat nung walong survivors, yung na-rescue at nakauwi na, pero wala tayong bodies, wala tayong katawan o labi nila (There are three, who, according to the report, were left on the ship. This is the report of the eight survivors, the ones who were rescued and have returned home, but we don’t have physical evidence, we don’t have their bodies or remains),” he said.
“So still meron pa rin tayong pag asa na kung possibly ma-confirm pa in some other way and, may isang missing (So we still have hope that if it’s possible to confirm in some other way and, there’s one missing).”
Cacdac said another Filipino crew member remains missing and unaccounted for.
On Tuesday, Cacdac confirmed that nine other Filipino crew members of MV Eternity C are in the custody of the Houthi rebels.
He said they are reportedly in safe condition, based on the DMW’s communication with the families.
“Sila’y pinapayagang tumawag sa kanilang mga pamilya at ayon sa huling mga set of tawag sa kanilang mga pamilya, sila’y nasa maayos naman na kundisyon sa ngayon (They are allowed to call their families and according to the last set of calls to their families, they are in good condition at the moment),” Cacdac said.
Currently, he said the DMW is in close coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is leading diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the crew held by the Houthis.
He said no ransom has been confirmed, and negotiations are ongoing in coordination with the shipowner and other international partners.
Meanwhile, Cacdac said investigation is still ongoing on the violations incurred by the MV Eternity C’s owner.
He said based on initial investigation, the ship crossed the Red Sea three times in a single voyage.
“Kasi may requirement tayo na kada daan sa Red Sea may report, may evaluation assessment, may military escort, lahat yun hindi natupad doon sa ating mga ipinag-utos so kasama yun sa imbestigasyon (Because we have a requirement that everytime they pass by the Red Sea, there has to be a report, an evaluation assessment, a military escort, all of that was not fulfilled so that is included in the investigation),” Cacdac said.
“Yan ang kasama sa imbestigasyon dito at yan ang konteksto rin sa pagsabi ko na tayo’y nag iimbestiga rin dun sa aksyon ng kapitan (That is what is included in the investigation here and that is also the context of my words that we are also investigating the captain’s actions),” he added.
The ship captain of MV Eternity C is a Filipino and has returned back to the country together with seven other Filipino crew members.
On the families of the nine crew being held by the Houthis, Cacdac said the DMW continues to provide assistance, under the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Cacdac said he has made personal visits to the families, and that the DMW is giving them regular updates. (PNA)
