THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is confident that Germany will be providing Filipino seafarers the highest protection following the Houthi attack in the Gulf of Aden last week, Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said on Tuesday.
De Vega made the remark as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is in a working visit to Berlin where the Philippines and Germany are set to sign a maritime agreement.
“Of course, ang expectation natin, we’re not going to tell Germany what to do, obviously. We’re not going to tell them to join the coalition or what, but we do expect and they will ensure that for ships bound for Germany, for example, German ports, German-flagged vessels that they will give the highest protection to our seafarers,” De Vega said in a Palace briefing.
On March 6, the Barbados-flagged bulk carrier M/V True Confidence was attacked by Houthi rebels while navigating the sea lanes of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. At least 15 Filipino crew members were on board the vessel.
Two Filipino seafarers were killed from the attack and their remains are yet to be recovered, according to De Vega.
De Vega also reported that 11 of the surviving Filipino seafarers are expected to arrive in Manila today via Hong Kong.
The Philippines and Germany will be signing a joint declaration of intent (JDI) on strengthening cooperation in maritime sector, facilitating maritime trade, and mobility of Philippine and German-owned vessels.
