SEVEN Filipino seafarers were injured when the vessel they were aboard came under attack in the strategic Strait of Hormuz earlier this week, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Thursday. According to the agency, the incident happened on Tuesday when the Maltese‑flagged container ship CMA CGM San Antonio was struck in what has been reported as an Iranian drone attack.
The development raised immediate concern for the welfare of the crew, given the location’s history of security risks amid geopolitical tensions in the region.
During a briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac assured the public that all seven Filipinos survived the attack and are now receiving medical care.
“All seafarers are okay. They are alive. They survived the attack,” he said. Cacdac further disclosed the extent of their injuries, noting that four sustained relatively minor wounds, while three are in more serious condition and currently under close observation by doctors. The seafarers have been brought ashore and transferred to hospitals, though their exact locations were not disclosed for security and privacy reasons.
The attack took place while the ship was traversing the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow but vital waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply and commercial goods pass. The area has long been a flashpoint for incidents linked to tensions between Iran and the United States and its allies, making maritime travel there particularly sensitive. Cacdac clarified that while some international reports described the vessel as French, Philippine records list it as a Maltese‑flagged ship. This detail forms part of the information the government is verifying as it coordinates with relevant authorities and shipping companies.
Philippine diplomatic and labor officials are closely monitoring the situation and the condition of the injured crew members. Cacdac said officers from the country’s embassy in the region, together with the assigned labor attaché, have already established communication through hospital authorities and are providing necessary assistance to the Filipinos. The government continues to track developments to ensure that the seafarers receive proper treatment and support as they recover from the incident.
