3 Ilonggo seafarers safely home

3 Ilonggo seafarers safely home
Rjay Zuriaga Castor July 23, 2025 https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/07/23/regions/3-ilonggo-seafarers-safel...

HOME AT LAST Three seafarers from Iloilo aboard the MV Eternity C, which was attacked by Houthi rebels in the southern Red Sea, are welcomed by personnel of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Region 6 as they arrived home safely in Iloilo on July 20, 2025. PHOTO BY RJAY ZURIAGA CASTOR
ILOILO CITY — Three Ilonggo seafarers have safely returned to Iloilo after their vessel, MV Eternity C, was attacked by Houthi rebels with a drone boat and ballistic missiles in the Red Sea earlier this month.

The three crew members arrived at the Iloilo International Airport on July 20. They are residents of Iloilo City, Oton and San Miguel in Iloilo province.

They were welcomed by personnel of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Region 6 (OWWA-6) and the Iloilo Provincial Public Employment and Services Office.

The three were initially reunited with their families upon arrival in Manila on July 16, before heading home to Iloilo.

James Mendiola, officer in charge of the OWWA-6, said a total of four Western Visayas residents were aboard the ill-fated cargo vessel. Another seafarer from San Miguel remains in Manila and is expected to return to the province within the week.

“We plan to provide counseling to our seafarers. We thank their manning agency that assisted them since they arrived in the country,” he said.

Mendiola said the Department of Health will lead the psychological intervention efforts to help the survivors recover from the trauma of the attack.

“This does not end our assistance to them. In the coming weeks, we will offer more assistance and programs to them,” Mendiola added.

“We will continue to communicate with the families for us to provide further assistance,” he continued.

Mendiola emphasized the need for continued support, noting that the survivors were visibly shaken and traumatized by the brutal ordeal.

The three Ilonggo seafarers are among eight Filipino crew members of the Liberia-flagged and Greek-managed MV Eternity C, who were repatriated after the July 7 and 8 missile attack.

The ship carrying 22 crew members on board — 21 of whom were Filipinos — was struck by missiles and rocket-propelled grenades launched by Houthi rebels.

The attack caused the ship to be besieged and led to casualties among its crew.

Prior to their return, the repatriated crew underwent medical and psychological evaluations in Saudi Arabia.

Thirteen Filipino sailors remain missing, with ongoing search and rescue efforts. Unverified reports suggest some may have been captured by Houthi rebels.