AGENCY SEEKS RELEASE OF KIDNAPPED SEAFARERS

Filipinos were on ship boarded by pirates in Africa’s Gulf of Guinea

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is leading negotiations to secure the release of four Filipinos kidnapped by pirates in Africa’s Gulf of Guinea last week.

This was revealed by the Department of Labour and Employment, according to the Philstar. com portal.

Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello said DFA was undertaking the negotiation to secure the immediate and safe release of the seafarers.

A Maritime Exec- utive report said 15 crew members of MT Davide B, a Malteseflagged chemical tanker, were kidnapped by nine armed pirates after boarding the vessel in the

Gulf of Guinea.

Initial reports said the vessel had 21 crew on board, including Romanians and the four Filipinos.

In a separate development, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reported that 10 Filipino seafarers, abandoned by their employer in Fiji, were awaiting repatriation.

POEA chief Bernard Olalia said he had ordered the suspension of the licence of the local manning agency that deployed the Filipino seamen.

“The manning agency failed to monitor the condition of the seafarers and that’s why we imposed disciplinary action.

“Until the suspension is lifted, they are barred from deploying seafarers abroad,” Olalia said.

He said the seamen’s foreign employer was also blacklisted from recruiting Filipino seafarers.

DFA was coordinating with the New Zealand government for the repatriation of the seafarers from Fiji, said Olalia.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is undertaking the negotiation to secure the immediate and safe release of the seafarers.