(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has decided to call off his trip to Dubai “in light of important developments” regarding the hostage situation involving 17 Filipino mariners in the Red Sea.
The President was scheduled to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in the emirate to present his administration’s priority climate-related agenda as well as concerns on energy and food security.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING/ PPA POOL
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING/ PPA POOL
“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,” Marcos posted on X, formerly Twitter, two hours before his scheduled departure.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ma. Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga will take over as head of the COP28 delegation “and articulate the country’s statement” on his behalf, he said.
Malacañang is yet to release further details regarding the Dubai meeting.
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Cabinet secretaries who are part of the delegation would push through with their trip to attend “minister-level” meetings. They include Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.
On November 22, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Yemeni rebels had seized the cargo ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea and captured its 25 crew members, including 17 Filipinos, in retaliation for Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
The Bahamas-flagged, British-owned ship, with links to Israeli businessman Abraham “Rami” Ungar, is operated by a Japanese firm.
Marcos earlier gave assurances that the Philippine government was doing everything to ensure the safety of the mariners.
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