“Our President really thanked Oman… This was (the) consequence which we were hoping for and got it much faster as [we] expected it,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs Eduardo De Vega said in a news forum.
“And maybe [it] is because we [have] special friendship. Our President has been talking to leaders in the region and definitely because of the high regard the Middle East the countries have for us because of the work of our millions of Filipinos there, so salamat din sa kanila,” he added.
De Vega said Philippine officials conducted quiet diplomacy until the breakthrough in the Israel-Hamas negotiations before the assumption to office of US President Donald Trump.
The Filipino seafarers arrived in the Philippines from Muscat, Oman, Thursday night and were booked by the government at a hotel together with their families. They are expected to stay there for the next few days.
“So that their health [will] be monitored to make sure wala silang post-traumatic stress disorder. So, after that maybe Tuesday, they will be brought to their provinces, most of them are not from Metro Manila,” De Vega said.
President Marcos announced this week that all 17 Filipino seafarers held by Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2023 were returning home.
The President thanked His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan of Oman, and his government for their successful mediation, which led in the eventual release, and safe passage of the Filipino seafarers through Oman.
The Houthis hijacked the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader near Hodeidah in November 2023 while en route to India, taking hostage its 25 crewmembers, including the 17 Filipinos. (PND)
