Filipino seaman’s death in Somalia confirmed

A Filipino seaman, who was among the 54 Filipino crew members of the  hijacked vessel off the coast of Somalia, died while  still in the hands of suspected Somali pirates, the Philippine embassy in Kenya confirmed yesterday.

Vice Consul Bernadette Mendoza, of the Philippine embassy in Nairobi, confirmed the news to Vice President and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Noli de Castro.

The name of the Filipino seaman, who was aboard the hijacked Malaysian vessel, was withheld. The cause of death of the sailor was also not immediately known.

De Castro said Bunga Melati Dua, the  ship owner, informed the consulate  of the Filipino seaman’s death. “The family of the victim was already informed by the local manning agency,” De Castro  said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had earlier proposed that employment contracts of Filipino seamen stipulate that they are not allowed to board vessels that will pass through the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia.