2 Pinoy seafarers in US repatriated

Filipino seafarers, detained by the US Immigration in connection with the investigation of their vessel for marine pollution, have been repatriated to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

The Philippine Consulate in New York reported to the DFA that Mario Nocon and Reynaldo Ramonida, who were detained by US authorities since Nov. 2004, were treated well by US authorities.

The two sailors were billeted in a New Jersey hotel for the duration of the investigation and continuously received their salaries from their employer.

Nocon and Ramonida arrived in the US on Nov. 25, 2004 aboard the M/V Friendship.

Upon docking, the vessel was detained by US authorities on suspicion that it was dumping oil in US waters. The US Attorney’s office later issued subpoenas to several crewmembers including the two Filipino seafarers to serve as material witness in the investigation.

But the US Attorney’s office later recommended the lifting of the subpoena against Nocon and Ramonida after noting their full cooperation in the investigation.

The two seamen may still board vessels plying the US route since they were neither the subject nor the target of any criminal investigation.

The Consulate also repatriated Filipino seaman David Paradiang to the Philippines last March 25. Paradiang’s release from a government subpoena that ordered him to serve as material witness in a federal probe against the

M/T Voyager was obtained by the Consulate.