President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. said he “adheres” to seeking all possible remedies to free the 17 Filipino seafarers held hostage by Houthi rebels at the Red Sea.
Marcos recently decided to skip the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) at Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at the last minute in order to monitor the latest developments regarding the Filipino hostages.
“In light of important developments in the hostage situation involving 17 Filipino seafarers in the Red Sea, I have made the decision not to attend COP28 in Dubai tomorrow. Today, I will be convening a meeting to facilitate the dispatch of a high-level delegation to Tehran, Iran, with the aim of providing necessary assistance to our seafarers. I have entrusted DENR Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga to lead the COP28 delegation and articulate the country’s statement on my behalf,” the President said in his social media account November 30.
Marcos also expressed his apologies to the Filipino community in the United Arab Emirates who were expecting to meet him during the COP 28 conference.
“Alam naman ninyo may mga bagay na kailangan agad na asikasuhin. Isa na dun ‘yung ating mga kababayan, mga kapwa Pilipino natin na na-hostage, 17 sila na na-hostage, at ginagawa natin lahat ng paraan upang sila ay maiuwi na. Kaya’t binubuo natin ang isang delegasyon para pumunta sa kanila at makipag-usap dun sa mga may hawak sa kanila para makauwi na sila. Kaya’t, siguro naman maunawaan ninyo, na inuna muna natin ‘yan dahil kailangan nating tiyakin ang syempre ang seguridad ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
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