7 abducted OFWs in Nigeria fall ill

Seven of the 24 abducted Filipino seafarers in Nigeria are critically ill and their health has worsened due to lack of access to medication.

A report of the Nigerian newspaper The Punch said the seven Filipino seafarers being held by Ijaw militants in the creeks of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State are hypertensive and diabetic.

However, there is lack of access to medication in the area where they are being held by the militants operating under the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

The MEND reportedly sent last Saturday a distress call to the management of the Brawal Nigeria Ltd., the agent of Bacoliner Shipping Co., through the state government and security agencies, requesting medicines for the seafarers.

Acting DFA spokesperson Eduardo Malaya said in a press briefing that the home office instructed Philippine Ambassador Masaranga Umpa to verify the report.

"Under the law as well as morality, the abductors are responsible for their captives’ health and safety. The deteriorating health of the seven seafarers provides all the more reason why they have to be set free, now rather than later," Malaya said.

He added that Umpa was also instructed to "press all the more for the release of the seamen."

The Nigerian government has assured the Philippines that it will not use military operations to rescue the Filipino sailors. The assurance came following an appeal from the Philippine government to exhaust all peaceful means to resolve the hostage crisis.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. said the Nigerian government is still negotiating with the militants who abducted the 24 sailors last Jan. 20.

The kidnappers, however, have not made a demand for the Filipinos’ release and denied responsibility for the incident.

Nigeria has appealed to President Arroyo to reconsider the suspension on the deployment of Filipino workers to Nigeria because of the incident.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Joy Ogwu conveyed President Olusegun Obasanjo’s appeal to Mrs. Arroyo to reconsider the travel ban during a meeting with Umpa last week.

Ogwu also said during the meeting that the 3,900 Filipino workers, most of whom are working in the oil industry, are a "vital" force in their country.

Mrs. Arroyo ordered last Jan. 22 a temporary suspension on the deployment of OFWs to Nigeria until the abducted Filipino seafarers are released and the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is guaranteed. — Pia Lee-Brago