DFA: 21 RP seafarers released from captivity after 6 months

At least 21 Filipino seafarers held captive off Somalia since April finally gained their freedom after pirates released the ship on Sunday. On Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said MV Voc Daisy, a Panamanian-flagged vessel, was released off the coast of Somalia, even as the crew were in good health. The DFA said the vessel was hijacked about 190 nautical miles off the coast of Salalah, Oman last April 21. It added that its Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) is coordinating with the manning agency and the vessel owner to arrange for the repatriation of the Filipino seafarers. However, it said there are still 80 Filipino seamen on board six vessels still being held captive by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. These include one aboard the MV Iceberg 1, 19 on the MV Samho Dream, 19 aboard the MV Eleni P, three aboard the FV Tai Yuan, 18 on the MT Motivator and 20 aboard the MV Izumi. "The DFA-OUMWA continues to coordinate closely with the local manning agencies for the early and safe release of all these seafarers," the DFA said. — RSJ, GMANews.TV