3 Houthi-held Filipino seafarers already recovered from Malaria --- By GMA Integrated News

The three Filipino seafarers in custody of Houthi rebels who were stricken with malaria have already recovered from the disease, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday. Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, DFA Assistant Secretary Robert Ferrer said they got the information from the wife of one of the seafarers. “First of all, nagpapasalamat kami sa Panginoon dahil ‘yung tatlong nagka-malaria ay magaling na at lumabas [we thank the Lord because the three who had malaria are now well and have gotten out] from the hospital. So, that is the good news,” Ferrer said. He said they are continuously asking the Houthis through Yemen's Sana'a government to release the Filipino seafarers who had malaria. “We ask the Houthi rebels na baka naman pwedeng i-release na ninyo ‘yung tatlo [if they can release the three seafarers] on humanitarian grounds. After all, there is a doctrine in Islam about mercy and love and caring also,” Ferrrer said. “So, ginagawa namin ‘yung appeal namin sa kanila through our honorary consul na si [Mohammad Saleh] Al-Jamal. Based po siya sa Sana’a, ‘yung capital ng rebel part ng Yemen, which is not recognized by the Philippine government,” Ferrer added. (We’re appealing to them through our Honorary Consul to Yemen, Mohammad Saleh Al-Jamal. He is based in Sana'a, the capital of the rebel part of Yemen, which is not recognized by the Philippine government.) Based on the DFA’s update to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dated July 30, Al-Jamal confirmed that several Filipino crew members of the MV Galaxy Leader were experiencing significant health issues, including malaria symptoms. It said that the Sana'a government in Yemen has provided medical assistance to the sick crew members and that Al-Jamal sought assistance from Sana’a authorities for their release, citing humanitarian reasons because of their declining health condition. The Houthis have launched a campaign of attacks on vessels in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes since November in solidarity with the Palestinians during Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. According to Ferrer, it is possible that the Filipino seafarers will be released from Houthi custody if there is a ceasefire between the two parties, even for just 24 to 48 hours. “We just pray and hope na unang una, magkaron na ng ceasefire sa Gaza kasi ‘pag magkaron na ng ceasefire, wala ng dahilan ‘yung mga Houthi na hawakan ang ating seafarers,” he explained. (We just pray and hope that first of all, there will be a ceasefire in Gaza because once there is a ceasefire, the Houthis will have no reason to hold captive our seafarers.) —Giselle Ombay/ VAL, GMA Integrated News

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