After almost a year, two Filipino seafarers held captive by Somali pirates were finally released.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the two seamen, along with their fellow crew members aboard the MV Blida cargo ship, were released on Nov. 3. The ship is sailing towards Mombassa, Kenya for medical check-up.
According to GMA News Online, their release leaves 41 Filipinos being held in captivity by Somali pirates. It added that the pirates have long been a problem of the Philippine government because of the attacks on Filipino sailors. Nevertheless, the government leaves the negotiating to the ship owners.
MV Blida, Greek-owned by registered in Algeria, was hijacked by the pirates on January 1, 2011, 150 nautical miles from Oman.
The DFA is yet to announce the names of the Filipinos and the exact date of their repatriation.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said he already ordered the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi to extend assistance to the seafarers.
The Philippines is said to be the largest supplier of ship crew with over 350,000 workers or a fifth of the world’s seafarer force.
Civil war in Somalia had caused a collapse of government authority in the country which aggravated piracy problems.
Source: The Philippine Online Chronicles
my husband was a victim of this pirates 2 yrs ago and i know the feelings of the faimilies of the seafarers who still in pirates arm. my prayer is strength for the love ones..i know God is still in control over the pirates so we have to trust the Lord always esp. thru this difficult times.
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