PH, India agree to work in ensuring security of Filipino seafarers ---- By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA Integrated News

The Philippines and India have agreed to cooperate in ensuring maritime security as the oceans have become more dangerous to commercial shipping. During the courtesy call of Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Malacañang on Tuesday, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. highlighted the important contribution of Filipino seafarers who are manning the world’s merchant ships, including tankers and cruise ships. Due to the security concerns in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and in the Indian Ocean, Marcos said countries should forge stronger maritime collaboration. "It really is at a crisis point of shipping," Marcos said. "And maybe we can find something that we can do together to ease the situation at least a little bit until it becomes... the conflict becomes less heated," he added. Marcos noted that the Indian Navy recently rescued Filipino seafarers in the Gulf of Aden. He extended the country’s appreciation for the rescue and assistance to the Filipino crew members of the MV True Confidence that was attacked off the coast of Yemen earlier this month. The 13 Filipino seamen were safely returned home and this is in large part due to the Indian Navy’s swift response to their distress call. Meanwhile, Jaishankar said India and the Philippines should start looking for measures on where they can do more to work together. —KBK, GMA Integrated News

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