MANILA, Philippines -- A day after Wednesday’s release of15 Filipino seafarers by Somali pirates, another 20 were freed Thursday night, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.In a text message, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. confirmed that the Panama-flagged, Japan-operated bulk carrier M/V Stella Maris was freed with its 20-man all-Filipino crew by the pirates around 11 p.m. Thursday, Manila time. This brings down to 47 the number of Filipino seafarers still held captive by Somali pirates. These are: M/T Iran Deyanat, with two Filipino crewmembers, seized on August 21; M/T Stolt Valor, two, September 14; M/T Centauri, 26, September 17; and M/T Captain Stefanos, 17, September 21. "All crew members [of the Stella Maris] are well and safe," Conejos said. The ship, which was seized in the Gulf of Aden on July 20, is now headed for Muscat. The released Filipino seamen are master Ariel Villanueva, 46, of Aklan; chief mate Huxley Gocolano, 36, of Iloilo; second mate Ramonito Batan Jr., 36, of Quezon; third mate Conrado Mangosing, 32, of Nueva Ecija; chief engineer Alfredo Comoda, 51, of Malabon; first assistant engineer Juancho Gavilla, 46, of Iloilo; second assistant engineer Vicente Ventura, 49, of Negros Occidental; third assistant engineer Carlos Roman Jr., 32, of Camarines Sur; Electrician Rodulfo Lasmarias, 54, of Parañaque; bosun Joel Florendo, 39, of Quezon City; first oiler Panfilo Tamoso, 44, of Aklan; able-bodied seamen Marvin Molea, 33, of Agusan Del Norte, Albert Pondang, 39, of Cavite, and Michael Vedua, 38, of Rizal; oilers Reynaldo Ganzon, 38, of Capiz and Norberto Nocon, 27, of Aklan; Riel Maglinte, 30, Misamis Occidental and Jennifer Sambajon, 24, of Albay; chief cook Leo Navejas, 36, of Aklan; and messman Lorenzo Solinap, 28, of Cavite. Conejos said the DFA and the ship owner are coordinating their repatriation. |
