Plan to ban Pinoy seamen in Somalia under study

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo has yet to act on the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ban the deployment of Filipino seafarers to vessels sailing dangerous waters.

“While awaiting the guidelines from the President, it will remain the way it is. There is no ban yet,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.

According to Ermita, Mrs. Arroyo is thoroughly studying the DFA’s recommendations as well as the position of the labor department, which is concerned about the loss of revenue and employment opportunities that the ban would cause.

On Tuesday, Agence France-Presse reported that Somali pirates released Greek-owned cargo ship MV Filitsa. The vessel was seized in the Indian Ocean on November 10, 2009.

The ship with a crew of 3 Greeks and 19 Filipinos is reportedly on its way to Mombasa in Kenya.

Ermita said that Somali pirates earlier released 16 Filipinos on board another Greek vessel, MV Maran Centaurus, after almost 2 months in captivity. The said vessel was hijacked on Nov. 29 in the Somali Bassin, 600 nautical miles north east of the Seychelles.

A total of 402 Filipino seamen in 33 ships have been released since 2006. A total 460 Filipino seamen serving aboard 38 sea vessels have been kidnapped.

Ermita added that 58 seamen on board 5 vessels remain in the hands of the pirates. With Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News