MANILA, Philippines—Seventeen Filipino seafarers abducted by Somali pirates have been released Thursday, more than 10 months since they were seized off the archipelago nation of Seychelles, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported on Friday.
The seafarers were freed off the coast of Somalia Thursday afternoon, the DFA said.
The owner of Taiwan-flagged FV Win Far 161 also said the Filipino crew were all in good condition and would soon be repatriated to the Philippines.
FV Win Far 161 was hijacked off Seychelles last April 2009.
"Before it was released yesterday, it was the longest held vessel with Filipino crew," the DFA said.
The DFA said there are 23 Filipinos still being held captive off Somalia onboard three vessels: two onboard the Thai Union 3, three onboard the MV St. James Park and 18 onboard the MV Navios Apollon.
"The DFA-OUMWA (DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs) continues to coordinate closely with the local manning agencies for the early and safe release of all these seafarers," the DFA said. - Abigail Kwok, INQUIRER.net, February 12, 2010
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