DFA: Pirates in West Africa seize tanker with 14 Pinoy seafarers

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that pirates in Lome, Togo in West Africa seized a tanker with 23 seafarers on board, including 14 Filipinos. In a news release posted on its website, the DFA said a Cyprus-flagged and Norwegian-managed tanker -- MT Mattheos I -- was seized. The DFA is monitoring the situation by coordinating with the Embassies and the local manning agency of the vessel. According to the manning agency, all of the vessel's crew members are safe. The families of the Filipino seafarers have already been informed about the incident, the DFA said. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario instructed the Philippine Embassy in Abuja to make representations with the Nigerian authorities for the safe rescue of the Filipino seafarers. Del Rosario likewise ordered the Philippine Embassy in Oslo to coordinate with the vessel's principal in Norway to ensure that negotiations for the release of the Filipino seafarers are being undertaken. Other kidnapping incidents Before Thursday's incident, the last kidnapping in West Africa involving Nigerian pirates was in July this year. Twenty Filipino seafarers of MT Anema E Core were eventually released after 24 days of captivity. Out of the 104 Filipinos kidnapped since February 2006 off the coast of West Africa, 88 Filipinos have been released, two are still missing, and 14 are being held captive. Off the coast of Somalia, 32 Filipino seafarers onboard five vessels have been held captive as of date. According to the DFA, the Philippine government has undertaken measures to minimize the exposure of Filipino seafarers to piracy attacks. These measures include: