Thursday, October 09, 2008
Pirates release 15 Pinoy hostages (11:23 a.m.)
MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said 15 Filipino seafarers on board a Japanese-operated chemical tanker were freed by Somali pirates Wednesday evening (Manila time), about 49 days after they were abducted in African waters.
DFA spokesperson Claro Cristobal said the 15 Filipinos along with four other foreign nationals of the MT Irene were freed at around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The 15 seamen are now heading towards Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. All crew members are safe and sound despite the ordeal they have undergone, Cristobal said.
Cristobal added that the DFA is coordinating with the ship owner for the repatriation of the Filipino seamen. This latest development brings to 67 the remaining Filipinos abducted by pirates in the Horn of Africa, particularly near Somalia since July this year, according to the DFA. (AHSunnex) |
