People watch Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea delivering a TV statement over a new shipping attack in the Gulf of Aden, in Sana'a, Yemen, on March 6, 2024. Yemen's Houthis have claimed responsibility for a missile attack on the commercial vessel 'True Confidence' flying the Barbados flag, in the Gulf of Aden, causing fatalities and forcing the crew to abandon the vessel, according to a TV statement by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea. Yahya Arhab, EPA-EFEMANILA -- Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Officer-In-Charge Hans Cacdac said they are closely monitoring salvaging efforts on the bulk carrier MV True Confidence, a day after it was attacked by Houthi militants on the Gulf of Aden.

Cacdac said the remains of the 3 fatalities, which includes 2 Filipinos, are still on the ship.

“Tinamaan ng missile kasi yung fuel section, big fire. Ang term sa report ay na-engulf in fire yung lugar kung saan namatay yung dalawa. Kaya sa emergency evacuation ang nailikas ay yung 10 unharmed and yung 3 harmed. May salvaging operations ngayong araw and we expect na marecover yung mga labi,” Cacdac said.

(The missile hit the fuel section. The report said the area where the Filipinos were was engulfed in fire. That’s why during the emergency evacuation, only the 10 unharmed and 3 harmed were able to leave. There are salvaging operations today and we expect the remains to be recovered.)

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) previously reported that the vessel had a 20-man crew: the Indian captain, 4 Vietnamese nationals and 15 Filipinos. 

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the third casualty was reportedly one of the Vietnamese.

Cacdac said salvaging efforts are being conducted by a firm engaged by the ship owner, and is being overseen by international maritime security forces. 

He admitted it can be challenging to recover the remains.

“Magiging hamon din yung pag recover ng labi kaya ipinagdadasal natin na magawa ito nang maayos dahil as of 4 p.m. kahapon may sunog pa sa barko,” he said.

(It will be a challenge to recover the remains so we are praying that it goes smoothly, because as of 4 p.m. yesterday, there was still fire on the ship.)

Cacdac reiterated that Filipino seafarers have the right to refuse deployment if they know that the vessel will be navigating through “high risk areas.” 

Those who will agree however must be entitled to higher compensation and benefits,

“Ang sumusuporta sa atin yung International Bargaining Forum (IBF) decision na gawing high-risk areas yung timog ng Red Sea at buong Gulf of Aden. Yung Gulf of Aden kung saan nangyari ito, yung buong yon ay high-risk area. May karapatan to refuse ang seafarers to sailing pero kung nagpatuloy sila, dapat doble ang sahod and death and disability benefits,” he said.

(We are supported by the International Bargaining Forum decision to declare as high-risk areas both the southern portion of the Red Sea and the entire Gulf of Aden. That entire area of the Gulf of Aden is a high-risk area. They have the right to refuse but should they decide to sail, they should be paid double their salary, death and disability benefits.)

A group of local manning agencies condemned the Houthi attack and the militants' threat to the lives of seafarers. 

According to the Joint Manning Agency (JMA), 70 percent of ships have already rerouted to avoid the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. However some are forced to continue taking this route due to the heavy commercial impact of taking alternative and longer routes.

“We condemn these attacks by the Houthis on commercial shipping…The longer route is from Europe going down to South Africa which takes 10 more days. So ang consequence niyan tataas ang insurance ng barko, tataas ang cost of products, cost of delivery so ang affected talaga global economy,” said Captain Juanito Salvatierra, director of JMA.

(The consequence is an increase in the insurance of the vessel, a spike in the cost of products, cost of delivery so what is affected is the global economy.)

The incident is the first Houthi attack that resulted in fatalities. It is the latest of a series of sea attacks that the group has carried out since November 2023.

The first vessel that fell victim to the attacks was car carrier Galaxy Leader and its 25 man crew - 17 of which are Filipinos. All crew members are still currently being hostage in Yemen. Shortly after the seizure of Galaxy Leader, the Houthis made a pronouncement that it shall only release the crew and cease from sea attacks, if Israel will end its war on Gaza.

2 Filipino seafarers dead, 3 others severely injured in Houthi attack