By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Just a few hours after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered government agencies to ensure the safety of the Filipino seafarers, combined international forces launched a daring mission on Friday night (14 June 2024) rescuing 21 of the 22 victims aboard the MV Tutor, which was attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
This was announced by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
“The ship was adrift in the southern Red Sea — immobilized siya but stable. Inextract ‘yung 21 Filipino seafarers and they were boarded into a security ship,” Cacdac said.
He said the President was “elated over this development. And having said that, ‘yung utos ng ating Pangulo na hanapin ‘yung nag-iisang seafarer onboard the MV Tutor.”
“Mayroong isang natitira. Siya ay nasa engine room noong panahon na nag-atake ang drones. We are still searching for him,” Cacdac added.
He confirmed that the rescue happened between 10:30 and 11:00 p.m. on Friday.
For months, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been carrying out attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as a way of showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the war between Israel and Palestine.
(el Amigo/mnm)
