By Marita Moaje
MANILA – A Filipino seafarer was killed while 21 others survived after their vessel was attacked in the Persian Gulf on Nov. 5, prompting the government to seek a security assessment and consider measures to protect Filipino seafarers in the area.
In an interview with Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Monday, he said the attack on the Veloz Sapphire, which had 22 Filipino crew members, was the first reported incident of its kind in the Persian Gulf.
Cacdac came from the fourth leg of the Serbisyo Caravan, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Saturday.
“Nakapag-monitor na rin tayo ng sitwasyon habang nandoon doon tayo, nasa Gulf tayo at sa kasawiang palad ay noong Nov. 5, madaling araw inatake ang isang barko. Hindi sa Strait of Hormuz, hindi sa Red Sea, kundi sa Persian Gulf. First time ito na may inataking barko sa Persian Gulf (We were also able to monitor the situation while we were there, in the Gulf, and unfortunately, in the early morning of Nov. 5, a ship was attacked. Not in the Strait of Hormuz, not in the Red Sea, but in the Persian Gulf. This is the first time a ship has been attacked in the Persian Gulf),” he said.
“’Yung tanker na Veloz Sapphire na inatake (The tanker Veloz Sapphire was attacked). Twenty-two Filipino seafarers on board. Twenty-one now declared safe and sound. However, mayroon tayo isang kababayan namatay, nasawi sa pag atake (we have one Filipino who died in the attack). And rest assured we are assisting his family.”
Cacdac said the ship has already reached a safe port and the repatriation of the remains of the Filipino seafarer killed is now being prepared.
He said the 21 surviving Filipino crew members are also being assisted for their return to the Philippines.
Cacdac said the government is extending assistance to the bereaved family, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide all possible support.
“I personally conveyed the President’s condolences and assurances of support to the family,” he said, adding that he would visit them at their home in the province.
Cacdac said the DMW is currently seeking security assessments from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense to determine whether the attack was an isolated incident or could lead to further attacks in the Persian Gulf.
“Once madamay na ang buong Persian Gulf sa sitwasyon, we will definitely take preventive action para wala nang tripulante natin na masaktan o mamatay (Once the entire Persian Gulf is involved in the situation, we will definitely take preventive action so that none of our crew members will be hurt or die),” he said. (PNA)
PERSIAN GULF ATTACK. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac grants an interview at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Monday (Nov. 9, 2026). He confirmed that a Filipino seafarer died when the vessel Velos Sapphire, with 22 Filipino crew members, was attacked in the Persian Gulf on Nov. 5.
