18 Pinoys aboard Japanese ship evade capture

MANILA, Philippines - Eighteen Filipino seamen aboard a Japanese ship evaded capture by Somali pirates who fired rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons at the vessel. Masami Suekado, a Japanese Transport Ministry official, told the Associated Press on Monday that the 13,000-ton "Jasmine Ace," with an all Filipino crew, was en route to Mombasa, Kenya, when it was attacked by the pirates on Sunday. Suekado said pirates on board two small vessels approached the Jasmine Ace and fired several shots before fleeing. Bullets reportedly broke the ship’s windows and hit the ceiling of the vessel’s bridge. There are more than 3,000 Japanese vessels plying international waters, according to Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, about 70 percent of which are manned by Filipinos. On Thursday, 17 Filipino seafarers on board a Greek-owned bulk carrier were kidnapped by Somali pirates. This development brings to 71 the total number of Filipinos held by the pirates since November last year. DFA spokesperson Ed Malaya told GMANews.TV that the MV Titan, a St. Vincent-flagged ship with 24 men on board, was en route to South Korea when it was hijacked by Somalis in the troubled Gulf of Aden. - Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV