abs-cbnNEWS.com 10/16/2008 4:10 PM
The Department of Foreign Afairs (DFA) on Thursday confirmed 21 Filipino seafarers were onboard a bulk carrier ship which Somali pirates hijacked off the coast of Somalia.
DFA Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. identified the hijacked vessel as M/V African Sanderling.
Citing reports from the Philippine embassy in Nairobi, Conejos said the vessel is a Panama-flagged, South Korea-owned, Japan-operated bulk carrier.
In a text message to abs-cbnNEWS.com, Conejos said the DFA has already instructed the Philippine embassies in Seoul, Tokyo and Nairobi to coordinate with the ship owners and operators and with international maritime authorities on efforts to secure the early and safe release of the crew members.
VP Noli: Stay in ‘safe zone’
Meanwhile, Vice President Noli De Castro urged shipping companies not to go beyond the safe zone to prevent possible pirate attacks.
“I want to reiterate our appeal to the international shipping companies to take extra precautionary measures and to strictly follow the directive to limit voyages to the "safe zone" or the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MPSA),” said De Castro.
Agence France-Presse reported Wednesday that Somali pirates hijacked a vessel with 21 Filipino crew in the Gulf of Aden.
“We are still awaiting further developments on the latest Somali piracy case,” said De Castro.
The report cited the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur. The vessel was sailing from the Middle East to Asia when Somali pirates attacked it.
“The coalition Navies, consisting of multinational naval forces of US, Britain, France among others, are patrolling and giving assistance to vessels passing the MPSA,” he said.
De Castro said the government has also implemented the double hazard pay scheme for Filipino seamen who will be traversing the said risk zone. Filipino seafarers are likewise given the option to disembark from the ship should they decide not to continue with the voyage because of the risks involved.
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>>Sobrang nag alala me..sa fiance ko this morning i cried a lot nung nabasa ko ung article ng Abs cbn kasi my statement dun.. na nagworry ako ..tumawag ako sa haus nakausap ko mommy ng fiance ko nagkausap kmi tungkol dun sa news na un..i forgot ung name nung sinasakyan nyang barko..and then sabi ng mom nya wag akong magalala..and wag daw ako iyak ng iyak kasi maaapektuhan si baby'...sorry for my baby pero ndi ko tlgang maiwasan na magalala at na sa malayo cia lulan ng barko. kya nung malaman ko na ndi un tlga ung ship nakahinga ako ng maluwag..and nag pasalamat ako kay God'.. and also i pray na ingatan ung mga taong na hostage sa somalia at nawa'y makabalik na sila ng pilinas..
and please dun sa mga makakabasa ng blog ko..let's keep on praying na ma-release ung mga hostage na nandun ngaun..and also pray our love ones..always..
Good morning sa inyo!=D
HAppy Weekend!!