MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo ordered yesterday the Department of Foreign Affairs to work for the safe release of Filipino seafarers taken captive by pirates in waters off Somalia.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs was ordered to immediately look into the situation and do everything possible to secure the Filipino hostages.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration was also directed to take care of all the needs of the Filipino seamen’s families.
Twenty-two Filipino seamen are being held by Somali pirates on board three hijacked vessels off Somalia, the DFA said yesterday.
The DFA has instructed the Philippine embassies in Singapore and Nairobi to help secure the safe and immediate release of the two Filipino crew aboard the Malaysian fishing vessel Thai Union 3, which was seized last week.
The Thai Union 3, with a crew of two Filipinos, two Ghanaians, and 23 Russians, was hijacked last Oct. 29, 200 nautical miles north of the Seychelles, the DFA said. – Marvin Sy, Pia Lee-Brago