ALL the 17 Filipino crew members of the Houthi-attacked vessel in the Red Sea are finally back home safe, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Sunday, July 13, 2025.
In the agency’s statements, it said M/V Magic Seas’ chief officer, second officer and third officer arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City, while three more crew members, mostly engineers, landed at Clark International Airport in Pampanga on Friday, July 11.
They were welcomed by the whole-of-government team headed by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Assistant Secretary Francis Ron De Guzman, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) Deputy Administrator Ryan Vincent Uy, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Medical Team.
On Saturday evening, July 12, 11 more Filipino seafarers from the ill-fated ship arrived at NAIA Terminal 3.
The seafarers were provided a safety net in the form of financial assistance worth P75,000 each from DMW's Aksyon Fund and Owwa’s Emergency Repatriation Fund.
The DSWD also gave them P10,000 each, while MIAA Medical Team immediately gave health check-ups to the seafarers.
They were also provided with hotel accommodation by Owwa and transportation assistance to ensure their safe return to their families and communities.
The distressed seafarers onboard M/V Magic Seas were attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea last July 6.
The ship's chief officer admitted that they are still in shock after their ordeal, but still grateful for the assistance provided by the government.
Meanwhile, another ship, M/V Eternity C, with 21 Filipino crew members on board, was attacked by the Houthi rebels on July 8 in the Red Sea and has since sunk.
Of the 21 Filipino crew members, eight have been rescued while the rest remain unaccounted for.
DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said they are still verifying reports that three of the 13 missing Filipino seafarers of the ship were killed.
He said there were also reports that the unaccounted sailors are being held hostage by the Houthi rebels.
The Houthis have been launching attacks on international vessels traveling the Red Sea region since the last quarter of 2023 in support of the Palestinians amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)