Freed For Christmas: 9 Filipino Seafarers Released By Houthis After Five Months

MANILA, Philippines—Nine (9) Filipino seafarers, who were held hostage by Houthi militants following the sinking of the bulk carrier MV Eternity C in July, have been released and flown to Oman, the Philippine government confirmed. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) hailed the long-awaited freedom as the "best Christmas gift" for the seafarers and their families.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced the imminent release earlier this week, confirming on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, that the men had been transferred from Sana'a, Yemen, to Muscat, Oman.

The release of the nine crew members—who were part of a larger crew attacked in the Red Sea—was the result of sustained diplomatic negotiations.

The DFA explicitly acknowledged the crucial mediatory role played by the Sultanate of Oman. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro had personally discussed the plight of the Filipinos with her Omani counterpart, Foreign Minister Sayed Badr bin Hamad El-Busaidi, during a bilateral meeting in July, and again in a follow-up phone call in November.

Upon arrival in Muscat, the seafarers were received by Omani and Philippine officials. The Philippine Embassy in Muscat and the Migrant Workers Office-Muscat are now coordinating arrangements for their safe and immediate repatriation to the Philippines.

The nine Filipinos were crew members of the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier MV Eternity C, which was repeatedly attacked by the Iran-aligned Houthi militants using sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades in the Red Sea in early July 2025.

The vessel, which was carrying 22 crew members (21 of whom were Filipinos), was sunk following the assault.

Following the sinking, some crew members were rescued at sea, while the Houthi group claimed to have taken several survivors to a "safe location," a move the United States condemned as a kidnapping.

Eight other Filipino crew members had been rescued and repatriated earlier in the summer.

The DMW has previously acknowledged that three Filipino crew members are feared to have been killed in the attack, though their remains have not yet been recovered.

The government had suspended the licensed manning agency and the ship's principal shortly after the sinking, citing an investigation into alleged violations of safety protocols that prohibit Filipino seafarers from boarding ships transiting the high-risk Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Bay expressed immense relief over the successful negotiations, telling reporters in an interview:

"This is a beautiful and happy Christmas for the seafarers, as well as for their families who have been waiting for a long time. The process has been arranged, and we are looking forward to their repatriation."

The DMW reaffirmed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure continuous support, including financial aid and psychosocial counselling, for the families of all crew members affected by the tragedy.