Speaker seeks update on 13 Pinoy survivors of Houthi attack
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez intends to seek an update from concerned officials on the safety and well-being of 13 Filipino crewmen whose cargo vessel was attacked with a missile by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“Pagdating ni Speaker, we will be definitely be calling on the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to give a status (report) kung anong nangyayari,” Deputy Majority Leader for Communications and ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo told a regular House of Representatives’ news briefing Thursday.
“I believe we can only do so much. Kasi we don’t have direct communications or relations or a diplomatic ties with Yemen, with the Houthis. So, ang nangyayari, we go to a third party. Mayroon tayo like, baka pwedeng pakiusapan. Iyung kausap natin may kausap pang iba. So parang nangyayari ngayon sa Palestine saka sa Israel sa Hamas,” he said.
For his part, Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Ray Reyes said the House would do its oversight function in inquiring into the welfare of the involved seafarers.
“Ang ano po natin dito is to closely monitor, then we leave this to the capable hands po ng DFA po natin. They are the ones who are on the ground. Sila po ang may up to date situation and we will look forward who doon sa update po nila pagdating ni Speaker,” he said.
Reyes called on the DFA and the Department of Migrant Workers to extend assistance to the seafarers and their families.
“Ang panawagan naman din naman dito sa Kongreso is either sa DFA or sa Department of Migrant Workers ay mabigyan din po ng assistance po iyung mga pamilya po ng mga seafarers natin dito,” he said.
Aside from financial assistance, he said the sailors’ families need to constantly communicate with them.
Another House member, Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin said communication between the government and those taking care of the Filipino seafarers is important.
As of the latest report, there were at least 13 Filipino crewmen of the vessel True Independence when it was attacked by Houthi rebels.
Three died in the attack, including two Filipinos.
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