RP backs plan for ships to sail in convoy in Somalia

MANILA, Philippines – The government has expressed support for a United Nations plan for ships to sail on convoy when passing near Somali waters to protect seamen from pirates.

Vice President Noli de Castro said the UN Security Council resolution also calls for the US-led coalition forces to intensify security in areas where pirates attack.

The government has adopted measures to protect Filipino seamen from Somali pirates, he added.

De Castro, presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers, said the government can instruct local manning agencies to avoid placing Filipino seamen on ships that have to pass near Somali waters.

“Pirates are likely to attack ships that pass near the territorial waters of Somalia as shown by the case of the German ship which was intercepted by armed Somali pirates last Aug. 21,” he said.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the kidnapped Filipino seamen were not sent to Somalia, but were aboard ships passing near Somali waters on their way to Europe.

“We do not have land-based workers in Somalia so we cannot impose a ban right now,” he said.

Roque said he had called officials of manning agencies to a meeting today to discuss measures to safeguard Filipino seamen from Somali pirates.

“We are meeting at the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) office in Intramuros to assess the situation and discuss possible measures on how to avoid such incidents,” he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has reported that Somali pirates have already taken hostage 97 Filipino seamen on board ships passing near Somali waters.   – Pia Lee-Brago, Mayen Jaymalin