Manila, Jan. 23 -- The 17 Filipino crew members of cargo ship Galaxy Leader who were held captive by Houthi rebels for 14 months are set to arrive home Thursday night, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega told the Philippine News Agency that the 17 are scheduled to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 9:30 p.m.

De Vega said the DFA shouldered the seafarers' expenses for pocket money when they arrived in Oman as well as their repatriation.

"The Department is working on their immediate repatriation to Manila so that they could reunite with their long-suffering families as soon as possible," the DFA said in a statement.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. confirm...