Gov’t seeks Pinoy sailors’ protection from pirates

The Philippines has sought international help in providing protection to the thousands of foreign seafarers against piracy, particularly those sailors onboard ships plying the pirate-infested routes of the Gulf of Aden and the Western Indian Ocean.

Philippine officials, during last week’s high-level meeting on piracy in Seoul, South Korea, stressed the importance of ensuring the safety, welfare and protection of not only Filipino seafarers but of all nationalities in ongoing efforts by the international community to fight piracy.

Oscar Orcine, executive director of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Ocean Concerns Office, urged governments, international organizations and private entities involved in finding ways to combat the menace to focus on the condition of seafarers who are victims of piracy and armed robbery.

“The Philippines recognizes the role of seafarers and hence international and regional initiatives should also focus on their safety and protection,” Orcine said.

He asked the international community to come up with more concrete actions to stop piracy and armed robbery in the two areas and stressed the need to provide post-hostage rehabilitation to seafarers whose vessels were hijacked by pirates.

The Philippines’ proposals were recognized and supported by other delegates in the meeting, Orcine said.

“Charles Darr, Attorney Adviser to the United States Coast Guard, disclosed that the Contact Group off the Coast of Somalia is now looking at the humanitarian component or the condition of seafarers who are victims of piracy,” he said.

The Contact Group is an international cooperation mechanism established in response to United Nations Resolution 1851.

Attended by delegates from 35 countries, 16 international organizations and private entities in the maritime industry, the Seoul meeting last June 9 and 10 was hosted by the Republic of Korea, in coordination with Japan and the International Maritime Organization.

The DFA has brought the issue of piracy to other regional and international fora. At the Association of South East Asian Nations Regional Forum, Manila expressed grave concern over the increasing boldness of pirates in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia, where 44 Filipino sailors remain in the hands of Somali gunmen.

The Philippines is the world’s leading supplier of ship crew with over 350,000 sailors, or about a fifth of the world’s seafarers, manning oil tankers, luxury liners and passenger vessels worldwide. Their ubiquitousness exposes them to the risk of pirate attacks.

Since late last year, more than 200 Filipino seamen have been abducted by ransom-seeking pirates off Somali waters.

The Philippine government maintains a policy of not negotiating with kidnappers and paying ransom to them, but gives ship owners a free hand in negotiating for the release of abducted Filipino sailors.

Philippine officials have been in a dilemma on how to provide protection to Filipino seafarers due to the rapid mobility of the seamen, making the government unable to track their destination.

A ban on Filipino sailors boarding vessels that traverse the known pirate-infested waters has been proposed by the DFA, but it has met strong opposition from local seafarers’ groups, saying this policy would cost the seamen their jobs as shipping companies would be prompted to turn to other nations for manpower. –Michaela P. del Callar, Daily Tribune