Pinoy seamen abandoned by Taiwanese employer stranded off Malta

MANILA, Philippines - A seafarer on Monday reported that he and 19 other Filipino crewmen and their Pakistani captain have been drifting for two months on board a cargo ship in waters off Malta.

Edgardo Hinobiagon reported to ABS-CBN News in an interview that their crew on board M/V A Ladybug have been abandoned by their Taiwanese employers and that they are now running out of supplies.

Hinobiagon said that the ship has run out of fuel and power and crew members led by Captain Zafar Abbsi fear that they will also run out of food stock.

"Ilaw araw na lang ang pagkain namin, bina-budget na lang para hindi kami maubusan," Hinobiagon said.

"Our situation is very dangerous because we have no light, and since we have no power, our ship cannot move from this place if the weather is bad," he added.

The seafarer also claimed that the Taiwanese shipping company has been dealing with financial difficulties and have not released the crew's wages for three months.