Marcos to warring countries: Don't bomb ships with Filipino seafarers

Marcos to warring countries: Don't bomb ships with Filipino seafarers
Jervis Manahan, September 14, 2026 https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/14/marcos-to-warring-countrie...

NEW DELHI, India — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Sunday said they are trying to talk to countries in war not to bomb ships with Filipino seafarers.

He expressed concern about the rising number of casualties within Filipino seafarers as wars continue in some parts of the world.

"The new danger now are our seafarers. Kasi doon tayo nagkakaroon ng casualty eh," he said.

"Kapag inatake ‘yung isang tanker, isang barko, malamang may Pilipino doon. So the chances of a Filipino becoming a casualty getting hurt or getting killed is very much there," Marcos added.

In early September, two Filipino seafarers were killed when a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Marcos said he is saddened whenever such incidents happen.

"We try also to talk to the other countries na, ‘pag may Pilipino, huwag niyo nang bombahin. And, you know, it's just the consequence of a war. That's what this is. This is a war," he said.

"We are doing everything we can do to help. We are very, very worried about the peril that some of our seafarers find themselves in. I wish them luck," he added.