Filipino crew of ship hit by Houthi missile arriving Tuesday

RED SEA TARGET An aerial view of the Barbados-flagged ship True Confidence ablaze following a Houthi missile attack in the Red Sea on March 6, 2024. The commercial vessel had 15 Filipinos among its crewmen. —REUTERS

MANILA, Philippines — Eleven Filipino crewmen of the True Confidence ship struck by a Houthi missile will arrive in the Philippines on March 12, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Monday.

In a statement, DWM Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac said they are now “preparing a fitting welcome” for the seafarers, adding that the travel documents of the returning crew have already been issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“The eleven returning seafarers are composed of the 10 unharmed crew members in the missile attack on their ship, the bulk carrier True Confidence, by Houthi rebels last March 6 as it was traversing the Gulf of Aden,” said DMW.

“The 11th returning crew member suffered minor injuries during the emergency evacuation of the ship. He was cleared by medical authorities as fit for travel,” it added.

READ: 2 Filipino sailors killed, 2 severely hurt in Houthi missile attack

According to DMW, the two injured Filipino crewmen remain in a hospital in Djibouti City, adding that their condition “remain stable and being monitored by medical professionals.”

“They will be repatriated to the Philippines as soon as they are medically certified as fit for travel,” it added.

Salvaging operations underway

In the same statement, DMW also addressed the lingering question surrounding the remains of the 2 Filipino crewmen of the ill-fated True Confidence vessel.

READ: Remains of 2 Filipino seafarers still in cargo vessel — Cacdac

“Recovery operations are underway for the retrieval of the remains of three crew members, two of them Filipino, who died in the missile attack,” said DMW.

“We pray for the success of the salvaging operation so that the remains of our two fallen seafarers can be repatriated,” it added.