Muscat: Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Thursday thanked Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and the Omani government for their tireless efforts in securing the safe release of the nine Filipino crew of MV Eternity C held hostage by Houthi militants in July. The Filipino crew arrived in Muscat from Sana'a, Yemen, aboard a Royal Air Force of Oman aircraft on Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the crew members of MV Eternity C were among the 21 Filipino sailors on board when the ship was attacked by Houthi rebels on July 7 while traversing the Red Sea. The vessel has since sunk. The first group of crew members rescued after the attack had been repatriated and arrived in the Philippines on July 17.

Cacdac expressed his appreciation through a Facebook post, stating, "Our nine brave crew members from the MV Eternity C that was attacked in the Red Sea in July 2025 will be able to return home." On behalf of the President, Cacdac conveyed his gratitude to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq for the safe return of the crew members.

He also highlighted the strong ties between the Philippines and Oman, particularly in the labor sector, due to the significant presence of Filipino workers in Oman. India's Ambassador to Oman, Godavarthi Venkata Srinivas, also expressed gratitude to the Omani government for facilitating the release of the two Indian crew members held hostage along with the Filipinos.

While the exact date of the repatriation of the released Filipino seafarers has not been disclosed, the successful negotiation for their release underscores the ongoing cooperation between the Philippines and Oman in ensuring the safety and welfare of Filipino workers abroad.