The clock is ticking for Pinoys in hijacked ship

MANILA, Philippines - The 18 Filipino seamen on MV Chemstar Venus, which Somali pirates hijacked last November 18, have appealed to the Philippine government to negotiate for their release immediately as “time is running out" for them. In a statement dated February 3, the Pinoy seamen asked President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, top government officials and chiefs of government agencies taking care of overseas Filipino workers to intervene as the five-day ultimatum given by the hijackers is about to end. The seafarers slammed the Pobar Marine Services, Inc. (the manning agency that sent the Filipinos) and the Japanese owner of the ship for failing on their promise to pay the ransom demanded by the captors. They complained that the manning agency and the president of the shipping company have not been responding to the phone calls of the crew. The statement sent to GMA News did not state clearly when the five-day deadline would end, but it said the abductors would either sink or push the ship aground should the owner fail to pay. “We are sending this second and last letter for we don’t know what will happen to us. The Somalis gave the company an ultimatum of 5 days. If still they (owners) refuse to pay, there will be no more negotiation," the statement said. Also, the statement spoke of the seamen’s worries should the deadlock drag on. “Few weeks ago, we lost one of our anchors. Now… we keep on transferring from place to place for our safety, as we can’t stay on one area because of the civil war in Somalia and we are scared another group of Somalis would attack us," the statement said. It added that once the ship’s fuel runs out, communication would be cut off, the crew could no longer produce fresh water and cook their food. The statement was signed by Orlando Chaves Jr., Edwin Oliveros, Reynaldo Teves, Ariel Gamao, Leonardo Robles Jr., Nolito Sendin, Dioneil Sarabia, Elson Malilay, Canilo Carao, Ronald Bustillo, Joelito Tenio, Jorge Carpentero, Harry Taplac, Andrew Geduspan, Joel Abellanosa, Roger Arroyo, Raul Carmona Jr., and Jonathan Salgado. - GMANews.TV