Philippine President Marcos Jr. cancels COP 28 attendance to address hostage crisis
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines has decided to forgo his attendance at the United Nations climate change summit in Dubai to address a pressing hostage situation involving 17 Filipino seafarers held by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on a hijacked ship in the Red Sea.
In a tweet, President Marcos stated, "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."
He further announced plans to convene a meeting to facilitate the dispatch of a high-level delegation to Tehran, Iran, to provide necessary assistance to the seafarers. Marcos entrusted the delegation's leadership to DENR Secretary Ma. Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga, who would represent the Philippines at COP28 on his behalf.
The hostage situation unfolded after Israeli authorities reported the seizure of a British-owned cargo ship operated by the Japanese company Nippon Yusen K.K. (NYK Line) in the Red Sea by armed groups, including Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The ship's crew consists of individuals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico, and Romania.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the seizure, stating it was in support of Palestinians allegedly massacred by Israel. They warned against any vessels engaging with Israel in the Red Sea.
The Israel Defense Forces described the hijacking as a "very grave incident of global consequence," emphasizing that the ship was not Israeli, and the crew did not include an Israeli citizen.
President Marcos had initially planned to advocate for climate change mitigation projects and funding commitments at COP28. His decision to prioritize the hostage crisis underscores the immediate challenges and responsibilities faced by national leaders in responding to unforeseen crises.
