Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has confirmed that 17 Filipinos were among 25 Galaxy Leader crew members released by Yemen’s Houthis, Al Jazeera reports.

“It is with utmost joy that, after more than a year of captivity in Yemen, I announce the safe release of all seventeen Filipino seafarers, together with the rest of the crew members of M/V Galaxy Leader,” Marcos was quoted as saying in a statement.

“Our Filipino seafarers are now in the care of our Philippine Embassy in Muscat, Oman and will be reunited with their loved ones in the Philippines very soon,” he said.