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At least 17 Filipino seafarers were taken hostage by Yemen’s Houthi armed group when the rebels hijacked their cargo vessel in the Red Sea on Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed.

The Philippines is just exercising its rights within its territorial waters, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said yesterday as it expressed belief that the ongoing joint naval and aerial patrols with the United States Indo-Pacific Command should not offend any party, including China.

The government is concerned because the incident is connected to Israel's war against Hamas.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks on the supposed unrest in the military and police were not a threat, but a stern reminder to government officials of their obligation to protect the people, according to a former Palace official.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines or its major service commands are yet to issue any statement on former president Rodrigo Duterte’s warnings of alleged “uneasiness” among the ranks of the AFPs and police allegedly because of recent political developments in the House of Representatives.