Manila, July 8 -- Seventeen Filipino seafarers, together with two other crewmembers, are safe after their vessel was allegedly attacked by Houthi rebels while sailing the Red Sea near Hodeidah, Yemen on Sunday.

In a news release on Tuesday, Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac assured the public that they are working on the safe repatriation of the Filipino seafarers.

"The department remains in close coordination with relevant government agencies and with the LMA (licensed manning agency) to facilitate the safe and swift repatriation of the affected Filipino seafarers," he said.

Cacdac said the LMA of the Filipino seafarers, Crewcare, Inc., reported that the crewmembers of the Liberian-flagged MV Magic Seas came unde...