Palace to DFA: Secure release of 21 RP hostages

Malacañang on Thursday directed the Department of Foreign Affairs to exert more diplomatic efforts in securing the immediate and safe release of the latest batch of Filipino seafarers who were taken hostage by Somali pirates. “We trust that the Department of Foreign Affairs will continue to exert more its diplomatic efforts to make sure that the welfare and safety of our seafarers who were involved in this latest incident will continue to be protected by the countries concerned," said deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar. The Panamanian-flagged Voc Daisy crewed by the 21 Filipino seafarers were on their way to the United Arab Emirates toward the Suez Canal when hijacked by heavily armed pirates some 200 miles off the Gulf of Aden. The hijacking of the Voc Daisy followed the attacks on three Thai fishing vessels last Apr. 18. - KBK, GMANews.TV