17 Pinoy seafarers released in Somalia due home on Sunday

After nearly a year in captivity, 17 Filipino seafarers who were released by Somali pirates only last February will arrive home on Sunday. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the 17, who are part of the crew of the Taiwanese-flagged FV Win Far 161, will arrive in Manila Sunday morning from Kaoshung, Taiwan. Expected to welcome them at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are representatives from the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and their manning agency. Somali pirates hijacked the fishing vessel on April 6, 2009 off the coast of Seychelles. It was the longest held vessel with Filipino crew. Earlier, 18 Filipino seafarers aboard Greek-owned, Panama-flagged MV Navios Apollon were released from captivity in Somalia on February 28 (Philippine time). The ship's owner is currently arranging the crew's repatriation to the Philippines. There are five Filipino seafarers remaining in captivity off Somalia on two vessels - two aboard the Thai Union 3 and three aboard the MV St. James Park. "This is the lowest number of Filipino seafarers in custody of Somali pirates in recent times," the DFA said. DFA-OUMWA continues to coordinate closely with the ships' principal local manning agencies for the early and safe release of the latter seafarers. - LBG, GMANews.TV