14 Pinoys accused of stealing Nigerian oil plead innocence

WARRI, Nigeria – Fourteen Filipino nationals detained said they were innocent of allegedly stealing thousands of tons of crude oil from a vandalized pipeline.

The 14 suspects, who have been detained since July 11, said they were crewmembers aboard the MT Lina Panama when it was hijacked by militants off the Niger delta coast.

They said they were held five hours below deck before Nigerian naval gunboats apprehended the ship.

Filipino Capt. Rey Chavez said he could not explain how the 150,000 tons of crude oil allegedly found on his vessel got there.

He did not rule out the possibility that the militants had stolen it while the crew was being held.

The 14 suspects were speaking with journalists on Thursday at the military headquarters in Warri. A Greek national who was also aboard the vessel and was detained was not present at the news conference.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Claro Cristobal said the Philippine embassy in Nigeria is looking into the arrests.

“The embassy in Abuja is sending people there,” Cristobal said.

Embassy officials would also look into statements by the Filipinos that they were victims of a pirate attack rather than oil thieves, he said.

Analysts say some 10 percent of Nigeria’s daily 2.5-million barrel oil production capacity is lost to theft, which is a major source of funds for criminals and militants in the area. Security forces in the area have also been accused of involvement in the practice, known as bunkering.

Speaking in London this week, Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua said his country could produce an extra 1.2 million barrels of oil a day if security in the Delta region improves.

Problems hindering oil output in Nigeria’s restive south have helped push world crude prices to historic highs. Nigeria is Africa’s top oil producer and is routinely ranked one of the most corrupt countries in the world. – AP