WikiLeaks: US wanted PHL to prosecute Somali pirates

The United States wanted the Philippines to prosecute Somali pirates who some four years ago hijacked a Japanese-owned vessel with Filipino sailors on board, according to online whistleblower WikiLeaks. In a letter to US State Department dated Nov. 7, 2007, former US Ambassador Kristie Anne Kenney said she had discussed with Foreign Affairs officials in Manila about pushing for the prosecution of the Somali pirates, WikiLeaks said. But Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) executive director Crescente Relacion rejected Kenney’s call because of deficiencies in legal standing, it added. “Since the tanker was not Philippine-flagged and the incident did not occur in Philippine territorial waters, there was no basis or precedent under Philippine law for prosecution of the pirates," Relacion replied to Kenney, according to WikiLeaks. The Golden Nori, which carried tens of thousands of tons of inflammable benzene, was hijacked on Oct. 28, 2007 with 23 crewmembers from Myanmar, the Philippines, and South Korea. Responding to the vessel’s distress call off the coast of Somalia, the US Navy apprehended the hijackers and was able to secure the hostages. The DFA had said it already took measures to minimize the exposure of Filipino seafarers to piracy attacks by making arrangements with ship operators and manning agencies for vessels to travel along a safety corridor. To date, 78 Filipino seafarers are being held captive by Somali pirates, DFA records showed. The Philippines is the world’s leading supplier of ship crew, with over 350,000 sailors, or about a fifth of the world’s seafarers, manning oil tankers, luxury liners, and passenger vessels worldwide. As a policy, the Philippine government does not negotiate with kidnappers nor pay ransom, but gives ship owners a free hand in negotiating for the release of abducted Filipino sailors. — JE/VS, GMA News