17 RP seafarers released in Somali arrive home

The 17 Filipino seafarers who were held captive by Somali pirates for almost a year arrived in Manila on Sunday morning, a television report said. The 17 were on board Win Far 161, a Taiwanese-flagged fishing vessel, when hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Seychelles last April 6, 2009, according to GMA News' "24 Oras." They were released February 11 this year and brought to Kaoshung, Taiwan. “Mararanasan mo ang lahat ng hirap, gutom o anumang mangyari. Kung ano lang ang meron, ‘yun lang ang kakainin (We experienced almost all kinds of hardship, like hunger. We can only eat whatever we could find)," Arnel delos Santos, one of the victims, said. Another victim, Arnel Ambabag, how they constantly lived in fear while being held captive. “Matapang talaga sila. ‘Pag gumalaw ka, kahit umihi ka lang, magpapaalam ka pa. ‘Pag di ka nagpaalam, kakasahan ka ng baril (They were really tough. We had to ask permission for the slightest move we make, even just to pee. If you don’t ask for permission, they’ll cock their guns to threaten you)," he said.

Representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration welcomed the 17 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). “We coordinated with the ship owners to make sure that the compensation of the workers is paid and this was confirmed by the relatives of the workers," said Arthur Abiera, corporate secretary of the Manila Economic and Culture Office, the country’s representative office in Taiwan. The DFA said the Win Far 161 was the longest held vessel with Filipino crew. On February 28, 18 Filipino seafarers aboard Greek-owned Panama-flagged MV Navios Apollon were released from captivity in Somalia. The DFA said the ship’s owner is currently arranging the crew’s repatriation to the Philippines. There are still five Filipino seafarers remaining in captivity off Somalia on two vessels – two aboard the Thai Union 3 and three aboard the MV St. James Park. This is the lowest number of Filipino seafarers in custody of Somali pirates in recent times, the DFA said. The department added they continue to coordinate closely with the ships’ principal local manning agencies for the early and safe release of the remaining five seafarers. – GMANews.TV