DFA: 4 freed Pinoy seafarers to be repatriated from Djibouti

Four Filipino seafarers who regained their freedom after Somali pirates released their vessel will be repatriated after reaching Djibouti. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the four, who served on the chemical tanker MT Hannibal II, are all well and heading for Djibouti with a navy escort. "(The seafarers') local manning agency confirmed that the crew are all well. The vessel is now heading to Djibouti with a navy escort. From Djibouti, the four Filipinos will be repatriated to the Philippines," the DFA said in a news release posted on its website. However, the DFA did not immediately release the names of the four Filipino seafarers. Citing a report from its Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs, the DFA said the MT Hannibal II had a total of 31 crew members. "Aside from the four Filipino seafarers, crew members on board also included 23 Tunisians, one Croatian, one Georgian, one Russian, and one Moroccan," it said. To date, the DFA said there are 103 Filipino seafarers onboard nine vessels held captive by pirates.—JMA/JV, GMA News