PRES. FERDINAND MARCOS JR. | SCREEN GRABBED FROM HIS VIDEO MESSAGE DECEMBER 24, 2025
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday expressed his gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman for its assistance in the rescue and repatriation of nine Filipino seafarers taken by Houthi rebels after their vessel sank off Yemen.
In a video message posted on his social media accounts, Marcos said the rescued Filipino crew members of the MV Eternity C had already arrived in Oman, where they completed travel processing before heading home.
He commended the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the Philippine Embassy in Oman for their coordination, but stressed that Oman played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the Filipino seafarers.
“Magpasalamat tayo sa lahat ng ginawa ng DFA, ng DMW, ng Philippine Embassy sa Oman at ‘wag po nating kakalimutan na magpasalamat sa Omani government dahil sila talaga ay walang tigil na tumutulong sa atin,” Marcos said.
The President specifically thanked Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, calling Oman a “true friend of the Filipino people” for extending support until the seafarers’ release and evacuation.
“Kaya’t pinapaabot ko ang pasasalamat ko sa Sultanate of Oman… lahat ng maaaring gawin para iligtas ang ating mga marino ay kanila ring ginawa,” he added.
The nine survivors are expected to arrive in the Philippines within the week, giving their families hope of reuniting with them before Christmas.
Meanwhile, Marcos extended condolences to the family of Neil Roy Faner, another Filipino crew member of the MV Eternity C, who died before rescue operations were carried out.
The vessel was sunk after an attack by Houthi rebels, with the group later releasing the Filipino survivors, according to reports from rebel media and the DMW.