DFA: Ship with 21 Filipinos seized

MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday confirmed the hijacking of another ship, this one with 21 Filipino seamen, by Somali pirates.

This brings up to 66 the number of Filipino seamen held hostage by Somali pirates.

In a text message quoting reports from the Philippine embassy in Nairobi, DFA Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. confirmed the M/V African Sanderling, a Panama-flagged, Japan-operated, and Korea-owned bulk carrier was hijacked Wednesday.

He said he has instructed the Philippine embassies in Seoul, Tokyo, and Nairobi to coordinate with the ship owners and operators and with international maritime authorities on efforts to secure the early and safe release of the crew members.

Since April 20 this year, 12 ships, including the African Sanderling, with 141 Filipino seamen, were hijacked in the waters off Somalia, particularly in the Gulf of Aden.

At an earlier interview with Conejos this morning, he said the Philippines supports international efforts to secure the region.

These efforts include the United Nations Security Council resolution in July which allowed military ships into the waters of Somalia to stop piracy in the region.

Conejos said the mandate, which will end in December, may be extended to include ships from Greece and The Netherlands.

He said international cooperation is needed to stop the piracy as Somalia has 3,000 miles of shore and the African country remains unstable, with no central government.

Conejos said the pirates appear to initially bring a hijacked ship to the port in Eyl village, northeast of Somalia. When a new ship is hijacked, the pirates move the first ship to another port.

"This goes on like a relay every time there's a new hijacked ship. The ships are distributed in different ports," he said. - Veronica Uy, INQUIRER.net, October 16, 2008