Somali pirates kidnap 21 Pinoy seamen

MANILA, Philippines - Somali pirates seized a Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier with 21 Filipino seafarers on board, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Citing reports from Armed Forces of the Philippines’ liaison officer to the Combined Maritime Forces based in Manama, Bahrain, the DFA said the 21 Filipino crewmen were on board the M/V Free Goddess when Somali pirates boarded off the western coast of the Socotra Islands in Yemen and seized the vessel on Tuesday.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the DFA has instructed the embassies in Bahrain to coordinate with the Combined Maritime Forces and those in Greece and Kenya to keep track of the negotiations with the pirates.

There are now 47 Filipino seafarers on board four vessels being held captive by pirates.