Pirates release 14 abducted Pinoy sailors, announces DFA By Michaela P. del Callar 09/26/2011

Pirates release 14 abducted Pinoy sailors, announces DFA

By Michaela P. del Callar 09/26/2011

The 14 Filipino crew members of a Cyprus-flagged tanker seized by pirates in West Africa were released last Saturday after 10 days in captivity, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

Citing a report from Philippine Ambassador to Spain Carlos Salinas, the DFA said the sailors “are well and safe.” Salinas did not say if ransom was paid to secure the release of the ship and crew.

The MT Mattheos I, with a total of 23 seafarers of mixed nationalities on board, is already on its way to a neutral port, the DFA said. The vessel, which is managed by a Norwegian firm, was captured by Nigerian pirates on Sept. 14 in Lome, Togo.

The last incident of kidnapping in West Africa was in July 2011, involving 20 Filipino seafarers of MT Anema E Core who were eventually released after four days of captivity..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110926nat1.html