MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that no Filipinos were injured during the latest Houthi attack on an oil tanker in the Red Sea.
According to Philippines News Agency, DFA Undersecretary for Migration Eduardo Jose De Vega reported at the Saturday News Forum that the department is actively verifying the crew list of the Panama-flagged tanker Cordelia Moon, which was targeted by a Houthi drone vessel last Tuesday. “We are still checking if any Filipinos were on board that ship. Luckily, no Filipino has been hurt in that attack, as far as we know,” De Vega stated.
The attack on the Cordelia Moon involved missiles and an unmanned boat, and was part of the Houthis’ broader strategy targeting vessels they claim are linked to American and British interests. This incident underscores the ongoing risks in the Red Sea, a critical international trade route that has seen increased hostilities since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.
De Vega also noted that Filipino seafarers have the option to decline assignments that pass through high-risk areas like the Red Sea, with the responsibility on manning agencies to inform them when their routes will include these regions. The Houthis, who have targeted commercial vessels linked to Israel, captured the vehicle carrier Galaxy Leader in November last year, holding its crew hostage as part of their continued maritime confrontations.