DFA confirms release of another Malaysian tanker with Pinoy crew
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/30/2008 3:21 PM
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The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday has confirmed that Somali pirates have released the Malaysian tanker with nine Filipino crewmembers along with the remains of a Filipino who died while they were held hostage.
DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. citing reports from Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Victoriano Lecaros confirmed that Somali pirates have released the Malaysian tanker M/V Bunga Melati 2 along with Filipino members of its crew.
The Malaysian tanker, seized by Somali pirates last August 19, was freed Monday along with its remaining 38-man crew, including nine Filipino crew members, and the remains of Jayson Dumagat who died while in captivity by the pirates.
Dumagat was reportedly killed by a stray bullet when pirates boarded the ship, which was carrying palm oil and sailing to Rotterdam.
The free Filipino seamen were identified by the DFA as Romulo Buhayang, Ariel Obja-an, Rodolfo Buinanao Jr. Benito Adecer, Macarion Pacione III, Ronan Maranan, Rading Maguan, Leo Andrew Sitjar and Eleanor Madriga.
All nine were reported to be in good health.
Conejos also said that the foreign affairs department is coordinating with the ship owner on the repatriation of the nine freed Filipino seafarers as well as of the remains of Dumagat.
Earlier release of M/V Bunga Melati 5
The DFA on Monday confirmed the release of another Malaysian tanker last Saturday and identified the five Filipino seafarers who were seized along with the vessel by Somali pirates.
Conejos received confirmation on the release of M/V Bunga Melati 5 also from Lecaros.
M/V Bunga Melati 5 has a 41-man crew which included five Filipinos namely Eduardo Lasprillas, Aldrin Palomo, Manuel America Jr., Rhageb Salabao and Ulyseise Maguslong.
“They are reported to be in good health,” Conejos said in a text message forwarded to abs-cbnNEWS.com by DFA spokesperson Claro Cristobal.
Conejos said the DFA is also coordinating with the ship owner for the repatriation of the five Filipino seafarers.
Released after ransom paid - report
Agence France-Presse reported that Somali pirates released the two Malaysian oil tankers and their crews in exchange for ransom a month after hijacking the vessels, a shipping company official said Tuesday.
"A ransom was paid for both the ships. We delivered the money with the help of the Malaysian navy. It was cash on delivery," Mohamad Hassan Marican, chairman of state-controlled MISC Bhd which owns the ships, told reporters.
Hassan declined to reveal the amount but local reports citing defense officials said four million dollars was paid for the two ships.
The MT Bunga Melati 2 was hijacked on August 19 in the Gulf of Aden with its crew of 29 Malaysian seafarers and 10 Filipinos.
Subsequently, on August 29 MT Bunga Melati 5 was captured in the same area with 36 Malaysian sailors and five Filipinos on board.
Hassan said the two ships were being escorted out of the pirate-infested waters to Djibouti.
"They are being escorted by our navy ships. The whole area is an unsecure area," he said.
Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991 and has suffered continuing civil strife. Pirates target foreigners as they can be exchanged for large ransoms.
Since January, Somali pirates have attacked 63 ships, 26 of those ships have been hijacked and pirates are now holding 12 ships with more than 200 crew onboard, the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Center in Kuala Lumpur said. With reports from Agence France-Presse
