MANILA, 20 December 2007 — Despite a delay in their homecoming, the nine Filipino seamen who were hijacked off Somalia will be home before Christmas, the Department of Foreign Affairs assured yesterday.
Pirates hijacked the nine seamen along with the rest of the 23-man crew of the Japanese chemical tanker “Golden Nori” off the Somalia coast on Oct. 28. They were released only last week.
Escorted by ships from the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, the “Golden Nori” sailed out of Somalian territorial waters and proceeded to the Port of Dubai under the control of its Filipino captain.
From Dubai, the Filipino seamen will be repatriated to the Philippines and are expected to arrive in Manila on Saturday, the DFA said in a press statement.
“The Philippine government expresses its deep gratitude to the ship owners, international shipping authorities, and participants in the multinational naval efforts to secure the hijacked vessel, for the safe release of the crew,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said.
The nine seamen are Restituto Bulilan, captain; Melchor Cayabyab, chief mate; Loreto Quiles, second mate; Raymundo Panaligan, third mate; Mario Ocenar, chief engineer; Adelino Amparo, first engineer: Carlito Lotoc, second engineer; Laureano Villanueva, bosun or boatswain; and Ismael Perez, chief cook.
All crew members are safe and in good physical condition, the DFA press statement said.
Despina Shipping Company of Japan owns the tanker.
Restive pirates have attacked several vessels this year off Somalia’s vast and largely unpatroled coastline, according to the International Maritime Bureau.
