A person points at a page on the Marinetraffic website that shows commercial boats traffic on the edge of the Strait of Hormuz near the Iranian coast, in Paris on March 4, 2026. Photo by Julien De Rosa/AFP
MANILA (UPDATED) — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday confirmed that two Filipino seafarers were killed after the Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker M/V SIDR came under attack while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz late on August 31.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the vessel, with sixteen Filipinos onboard, was struck by "still unknown projectiles," triggering a fire that was later contained by the crew.
"Isa siyang crude oil tanker, at siya'y inatake ng still unknown projectiles that hit the ship as it was about to cross the Strait of Hormuz," said Cacdac.
"Unfortunately, meron tayong dalawang tripulanteng nasawi, as a result of the attack," he added. "We express our deepest sympathies to the families of the two desist do'n sa ship na SIDR."
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The bodies of the two fatalities have already been brought to Oman, while the 14 surviving crew members are safe and awaiting their flight home with the assistance of Omani authorities.
Cacdac said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the immediate repatriation of the crew and directed government agencies to extend full assistance to the bereaved families.
The DMW chief said he will personally visit the families of the two slain seafarers beginning Thursday, while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will help provide financial and other support.
"Simula bukas ay magtutungo na ako sa mga tirahan ng pamilya ng mga nasawi… Rest assured we will be helping and holding the family, together with the OWWA, sa pagbibigay ng ganap na assistance sa pamilya kasama na do'n ‘yung agarang pagpapauwi ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay," Cacdac said.
The DMW also renewed its warning against sending Filipino seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz, which remains under red alert and is classified as a "war-like," "high-risk zone" despite a ceasefire reached months ago.
Bahri, the Saudi ship manager of M/V SIDR, earlier said that "the company extends its deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies" to the families of the victims, reassuring them that it will provide full support.
According to Cacdac, the department remains in close contact with Bahri.
"This Saudi ship manager called Bahri has been a very good employer of Filipino seafarers," he said.
"We are in-touch with them, however, we continue to remind them to be mindful of the safety of our seafarers onboard, and to put them out of harm's way," he added, stating that he is planning to personally meet with the company's top management.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is deferring the matter to the DMW, the "lead agency for concerns involving overseas Filipino workers, including seafarers."
The DMW said it continues to coordinate with the DFA, the Department of National Defense (DND), and Omani authorities as it monitors the security situation in the area.
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Overnight Monday to Tuesday, unidentified projectiles struck two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, Greek maritime risk management firm Marisks had said.
Both vessels loaded two million barrels of crude at Juaymah on Saudi Arabia's east coast last week, according to Kpler data.
On Wednesday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said two oil tankers caught fire after striking mines while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States renewed its attacks on Iran this week, with Tehran hitting back in the Gulf, mainly targeting US assets.
Iran says it wants to charge service fees and has attacked ships it accuses of attempting to circumvent its preferred route through the waterway.
Attacks on commercial ships in the strait, which was free to transit before the war, previously led to the collapse of an April ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
— with Agence France-Presse