MANILA: The Philippines has banned the deployment of Filipino seafarers on vessels that would pass by pirate-threatened seas off Somalia, an official said yesterday.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the ban in the wake of increased pirate attacks in waters off Somalia.
A total of 105 Filipino seafarers are still being held captive by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. Since 2006, 227 Filipinos have been abducted in the area.
“President Arroyo issued a series of directives banning the deployment of seafarers on pirate-threatened sea lanes and the stepping up of efforts to recover (Filipinos) who are still held by these pirates,” Remonde said. Arroyo also ordered closer coordination between the Philippine government, recruitment and manning agencies and ship owners in negotiating for the release of the Filipino hostages.
He did not say how such a ban could be enforced.
Last week, Arroyo’s chief aide, Eduardo Ermita, conceded that a ban may not work because Filipino seamen are not obliged to tell the government about their ships’ routes.
Remonde said the ban prohibits Filipino seamen from being deployed on ships that would pass by the Gulf of Aden or within 200 nautical miles from Somalia.
He said ship owners and manning agencies have been advised of the regulations and warned of sanctions if they do not follow.
The Philippines is the world’s leading supplier of crew, with over 350,000 Filipino sailors manning oil tankers, luxury liners and passenger vessels worldwide.
