20 RP seafarers home after ordeal with pirates

After a six-month ordeal at the hands of Somali pirates, 20 of 21 Filipino seafarers finally returned to the Philippines Monday night, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday. The DFA said the 20 seafarers of the MV Voc Daisy arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Monday night aboard an Etihad Airways flight. "These include ship captain Vincent Sarsuelo, chief officer Nemesio Datingguinoo, second officer Nicasio Dano, third officer Mark Louie Dumaguita, second engineer Angel Meneses, Jr., and third engineer Byron Macuja," the DFA said on its website. Other crew members included Absalo Verano, Ricky Tubillara, Francaiso Bronola, Sergio Ulysses Gonza, Misael Prejoles, Cesar Johansoon Alcoriza, Nelson Pablo, Javerik Pablico, Ariel Ulbino, Antony Parado, Aldren Chuca, Ruben Custodia, Joselito dela Cruz, and Alejandro Ignacio. The 21st crew member, Chief Engineer Freddie Fernandez, is being treated for pulmonary edema or water in the lungs, and is expected home once he is cleared for travel. Citing its records, the DFA said the Panamanian-flagged vessel was released from captivity off the coast of Somalia last October 17. It had been hijacked last April 21, some 190 nautical miles off the coast of Salalah, Oman. "Upon their release, they were met by a representative of their manning agency who escorted them home. Before flying back to Manila, they underwent medical check-ups," the DFA said. The seafarers visited the DFA Tuesday and met with DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. Also at the meeting were DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) Executive Director Ricardo Endaya and DFA-OUMWA Special Assistant Enrico Fos. During the meeting, the seafarers conveyed their gratitude to the DFA and the Philippine government for their efforts to secure their release and repatriation. They also related their days in captivity, and recommended measures for consideration by concerned authorities based on their experiences. Meanwhile, the DFA-OUMWA has confirmed the hijacking of the Greek-owned and Singaporean-flagged chemical tanker MT York. On board the vessel were 14 Filipino seafarers. According to the vessel's local manning agency, the ship was seized by Somali pirates on October 24 at about 90 nautical miles from Mombasa, Kenya. "The vessel's principal, which is based in Greece, has assured Philippine authorities that it will exert utmost effort to secure the vessel and its crew's early release. The manning agency has also notified the crew members' families of the situation," the DFA said. It added OUMWA has instructed the Philippine Embassies in Nairobi and Manama to coordinate with its contacts in monitoring the situation, and to coordinate with the multinational Combined Task Force based in Bahrain, respectively. It has also instructed the Philippine Embassy in Athens to keep track of the negotiations between the principal and the pirates for the early and safe release of the seafarers. "There are now 94 Filipino seafarers on board seven vessels held captive off Somalia," the DFA said. - KBK, GMANews.TV