14 seafarers in seized ships arrive today

MANILA, Philippines – The 14 Filipino crewmembers of two Malaysian ships seized by Somali pirates and the remains of a Filipino seaman who died in the attack on their ship will arrive today, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Victoriano Lecaros reported to the DFA that the pirates released the remains of Jayson Dumagat, whose body was placed in the ship’s cold storage when the seamen were being held by the pirates.

The nine Filipino seafarers released were Romulo Buhayang, Ariel Objaan, Rodolfo Buinanao Jr., Benito Adecer, Macario Pacione III, Ronan Maranan, Rading Maguan, Leo Andrew Sitjar, and Eleanor Madriga, the report added.

All of them are reported to be in good health, the DFA said.

The two seized Malaysian ships are M/T Bunga Melati 2 and M/T Bunga Melati 5.

The M/T Bunga Melati 2, which was seized last Aug. 19, was released on Monday along with its remaining 38-man crew.

Last week, Somali pirates had rejected a Philippine government appeal to release the body of Dumagat.

The Philippines supplies about a third of the crew on the world’s commercial ships and there are close to 270,000 Filipino seamen. – Pia Lee-Brago