The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines is actively working to secure the release of 17 Filipino crew members from the MV Galaxy Leader. The car carrier was seized by Iranian-backed Houthis in November 2023.

Medical Situation on Board

Among the crew, three sailors are showing symptoms of malaria and are currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital. According to DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, these three crew members are under care, while the remaining 14 are still aboard the vessel. “As far as we know, they are safe. They are being fed and given their basic necessities on board the ship,” Cacdac confirmed during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

Negotiations for Release

The Department of Foreign Affairs is negotiating with governments that have communication channels with the Houthi rebels. The aim is to secure the release of the hospitalized crew members. Additionally, Honorary Consul to Yemen Mohammad Saleh Al-Jamal is working with Sana’a authorities to facilitate their release on humanitarian grounds due to their health condition. Al-Jamal plans to visit the MV Galaxy Leader, marking his first visit in about three months.

Background on the Hijacking

The MV Galaxy Leader was hijacked by Houthis near Hodeidah on November 17, 2023, while en route to India. The vessel’s crew includes 17 Filipino nationals out of 25 members. Since the hijacking, the Houthis have conducted over a hundred drone and missile attacks in the Gulf of Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb, and surrounding areas. These attacks, intended to support Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict, have caused significant disruptions, including four deaths, two ship sinkings, and extensive damage, leading many shipping services to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope.