A RESOLUTION was filed at the House of Representatives seeking added protection for Filipino seafarers amid the intensified attacks of Houthi militants on commercial ships.

House Resolution 1651, filed by Representatives Ron Salo, Salvador Pleyt, Khymer Adan Olaso, Felimon Espares, Presley de Jesus and Lex Anthony Cris Colada, was in response to the missile attack on the M/V True Confidence off the Yemeni coast that resulted in the deaths of two Filipino seamen.

This handout photograph taken on March 6, 2024 and released by the Indian Navy shows the Barbados-flagged bulk carrier following a attack by Yemen’s Huthi rebels, in Gulf of Aden. A missile fired by Yemen’s Huthi rebels hit a bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden on March 6, with the crew reporting three people killed and at least four wounded, the US military said. INDIAN NAVY / AFP

In a separate incident, Filipino crews of cargo ship Galaxy Leader were taken hostage by Houthi militants.

The resolution underscored the consensus among maritime organizations that the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden were unsafe for transit due to the escalating threat from Houthi militants in the area.

The Houthis were reacting to the Gaza war, which was Israel’s response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

The resolution urged maritime stakeholders, concerned United Nations organizations, and government agencies to implement effective safety measures without delay.

It also called on the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers to engage with international authorities to adopt appropriate measures ensuring the safety of Filipino seafarers.

“We stand in solidarity with our seafarers and their families in the face of these grave threats,” said Kabayan Party-list Representative Salo.