DFA confirms 5 Pinoy seamen freed in Nigeria

MANILA, Philippines – Five Filipino seamen kidnapped in Nigeria’s Niger Delta early this month were freed by their captors on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed yesterday.

DFA Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. said the five Filipino crew of MT Aveiro, who were abducted last Oct. 4, are all well and unharmed.

They were identified as Capt. Vicente Echavez Jr., C/O Russel Fernandez, C/E Ernesto Mandane, A/B Roel Jaboni and A/B Efren Sayre.

Conejos said the sailors are now under the care of the team from the Philippine Embassy in Abuja that was dispatched to secure their safe release.

The Philippine government expressed its gratitude to the Nigerian government for the speedy resolution of the kidnapping case.

The marine watchdog International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said Nigeria and Somalia are the world’s most dangerous hot-spots for seafarers, with pirate attacks surging in the first quarter of this year. – Pia Lee-Brago