DFA: Another ship with Filipino crew freed by Somali pirates
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/09/2008 8:36 AM
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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed Thursday that a Japanese-operated, Panama-flagged chemical tanker with 19-man crew including 15 Filipino seamen was freed by Somali pirates.
DFA Undersecretary Esteban Conejos told ABS-CBN News that the ship and its crew was released by the Somali pirates 11:30 p.m. Wednesday (Manila time) and is now heading towards Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.
M/T Irene was hijacked last August 21 in the Gulf of Aden.
Conejos said all crewmembers are safe. He said the DFA is now coordinating with the shipowners for the repatriation of the Filipino seamen.
He said theFilipino crewmembers of the chemical tanker were Noel Estrella of Iloilo, Darwin Enraca of Cavite, Pedro Mucas of Iloilo, Joey Caballero of Pangasinan, Pepe dela Cruz of Cavite, Joel Cepeda of Bacolod, Marlon Cariño of Isabela, Vicente Panopio of Batangas, Cyrus Briton of Bacolod, Sorrton Bolas of Benguet, Esteban Abecia of Cagayan de Oro, Edgar Asoque of Leyte, Anthony Apon of Cavite, Isidro San Diego of Bulacan and Danilo Labaro of Pangasinan.
Malaysian ship crew
Last October 4, 14 Filipino seafarers who were freed by Somali pirates have reunited with their families after arriving in Manila, after more than a month in captivity.
Also brought home were the remains of Jayson Dumagat, of Bunga Melati 2, who died reportedly due to a stray bullet when pirates boarded their ship.
The seamen were among those taken hostage by Somali pirates at the Gulf of Aden also last August.
The pirates have released the hostages after ship owner Malaysia International Shipping Co. paid millions of dollars in ransom in exchange of the captives.
