Nine Filipino crew members detained by Yemen’s Houthi rebels after their cargo ship was sunk in the Red Sea are set to be released, according to Philippine authorities. The sailors were part of the crew of the Liberian-flagged M/V Eternity C, which was attacked and sunk in July, one of two commercial vessels targeted within days amid escalating regional tensions.
The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs stated it had received confirmation from Oman that the sailors—held hostage since the incident—would soon be freed. The men are expected to be transferred from Sanaa, Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, to Oman, before being repatriated to the Philippines. The ministry credited Omani diplomatic efforts for securing the release but did not provide a timeline or specify any conditions attached to the handover.
The attacks on the Eternity C and Magic Seas marked the end of a relative lull in Houthi assaults on Red Sea shipping, which have disrupted global trade since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023.
Filipino seafarers comprise nearly 30 percent of the world’s merchant shipping workforce, and remittances from overseas workers remain a vital lifeline for the Philippine economy. In 2023, Filipino sailors sent home nearly $7 billion, representing about a fifth of total remittances to their home country.
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