The 17 Filipino seafarers held hostage by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea since November last year are safe, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

“For the 17, our Honorary Consul in Yemen confirms that they are unharmed,” DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Eduardo de Vega told Daily Tribune in a text message.

The 17 Filipino seafarers were among the crewmen being held hostage by the Houthi rebels after seizing a Japan-operated cargo ship in the Red Sea.

They have been in captivity since 22 November.

The cargo vessel, MV Galaxy Leader, was en route to India on Sunday when it was hijacked by Yemeni militants.

Aside from Filipinos, other crewmen who were held hostage were Romanians, Ukrainians, Mexicans, and Bulgarians.

Backed by Iran, Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the seizing of the ship as a retaliation to Israel’s multiple attacks in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

De Vega noted that the Philippine government is exhausting diplomatic efforts to expedite the release of the captive Filipinos.

“We continue to engage in diplomatic representations for their release,” he said.

“We cannot give a categorical response on when they will be released. We just hope they will be soonest,” he added.

In the meantime, De Vega said the Department of Migrant Workers is regularly in coordination with the seafarers’ families to provide updates on their situation in Yemen.