President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. raised alarms regarding the escalating threats facing Filipino seafarers in the Middle East, highlighting that their heavy presence across international commercial vessels leaves them highly vulnerable to regional hostility.
Briefing media members following the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, Marcos indicated that recent strikes targeting merchant shipping have intensified government worries over crew welfare.
“The new danger now is our seafarers, yung kasi doon tayo nagkakaroon ng casualty. Pag inatake yung isang tanker, isang barko, malamang may Pilipino doon,” Marcos said.
“So the chances of a Filipino becoming a casualty, getting hurt or getting killed are very much there,” he added.
Marcos stated that state agencies are extending aid to impacted families while engaging diplomatic channels to request that warring nations refrain from targeting ships crewed by Filipinos.
”Pagka may pangyayaring ganyan, kaya naman patuloy lang ang aming support, ang binibigay sa kanilang pamilya,” he said.
“And 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 it is. This is a war,” he added.
The warning follows a Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) report confirming the deaths of two Filipino crewmen after the Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker MT Sidr was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on August 31.
Fourteen surviving Filipino crew members were successfully brought home on September 8.
Following the fatal attack, Marcos instructed the DMW to expedite emergency assistance, insurance claims, and compensation for the bereaved families. Additionally, the DMW is reviewing manning agencies and vessel operators connected to five ships exposed to danger across the Strait of Hormuz and the Northern Black Sea.
Maritime security was also addressed at the BRICS summit, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated for the safety of sea lanes and recommended establishing a BRICS emergency support framework for mariners.
Marcos stressed that relief measures extend beyond maritime personnel to cover all land-based overseas workers, transport sector employees, and low-income citizens vulnerable to the conflict’s economic fallout.
“Lahat ng ating kayang gawin para suportahan yung OFW natin, yung ating mga transport workers, yung mga nasa lower demographic ng lipunan natin, lahat ‘yan, siyempre ‘yan ang ating iniintindi,” the President said.