MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 12, 2013) – Somali pirates have freed 14 Filipino seamen who were among 26 crew of a Greek-owned oil tanker seized off the coast of Oman, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs said.
It said the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya reported the release of the Filipinos after 10 months in captivity. The M/T Smyrni was hijacked on May 10 last year.
“The vessel and its crew were released March 09 after being detained for 10 months. All of the crew members are in good physical condition,” it said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the tanker and its crew are now en route to Salalah in Oman where the Filipinos will be met and assisted there by representatives of the Philippine Embassy in Muscat and their manning agency.
“The crew will undergo medical check-up as soon as they arrive at the Port of Salalah. The next-of-kin of the Filipino crew members have already been informed of their release and the Embassy in Muscat will facilitate their immediate repatriation,” it said.
Authorities did not release the names of those freed, but the 9 more Filipino seamen seized from two ships hijacked by Somali pirates are still being held captive. The Department of Affairs did not say whether ransom was paid to the pirates.
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