The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has confirmed that all Filipino seafarers aboard two vessels attacked near the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf are safe and are being transferred to safer ports.
Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac reported that three cargo ships were struck by projectiles or unknown objects, with two of the vessels carrying Filipino crew members.
One of the ships had 21 Filipino crew on board, while the other had 17, and all are accounted for.
The third vessel, a Thailand-flagged ship, did not have any Filipino crew.
The DMW is actively monitoring a total of 7,313 Filipino seafarers aboard ships in and around conflict areas in the Middle East. According to the agency, all these seafarers have been marked safe and accounted for.
In addition to these attacks, a Filipino crew member is still reported missing after a tugboat he was aboard was hit by a missile while assisting a distressed vessel in the same area. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing.
DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have already visited the family of the missing seafarer to provide assistance and support during the search.
Cacdac said an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He noted that the shipowner of the tugboat had failed to register the missing crew member in official DMW records, an action that constitutes a regulatory violation.
The investigation will also look into the responsibilities of the vessel operators and any lapses in adherence to maritime labor standards.
The DMW secretary emphasized that shipowners and manning agencies have a duty to protect Filipino seafarers, particularly by ensuring their right to refuse deployment to high-risk or warlike zones.
Areas specifically cited include the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman.
These protections are recognized under the International Bargaining Forum and supported by global maritime labor stakeholders.
The agency continues to maintain close coordination with shipowners, manning agencies, and international maritime authorities to monitor the situation.
Cacdac’s office is overseeing the transfer of Filipino crew members from the affected vessels to secure locations, ensuring their safety as operations continue.
“For the last 48 hours nabalita naman ito sa international media na may tatlong ships na inatake sa Persian Gulf, by projectiles or unknown object. Dalawa sa tatlong ships na yun may Pilipino,” Cacdac said.
The incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by Filipino seafarers operating in conflict-prone areas and underscores the importance of strict adherence to international safety and labor regulations.
The DMW has reiterated its commitment to keeping families informed and to coordinating immediate assistance whenever Filipino crew members are affected by maritime incidents. (with PNA report)
