MANILA,Philippines — Two more Filipino seafarers have been kidnapped by pirates in West Africa, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported yesterday.
The DFA said the Philippine embassy in Abuja received a report of the incident that occurred in Togo.
The incident brought to 11 the total number of kidnapped Filipino seafarers in West Africa, after nine others were seized in Benin on Nov. 2.
The captain of the Norwegian vessel MV Bonita was among the nine seafarers seized by pirates.
“The government is tracking the development of the case with the embassy in Abuja, with the embassy coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of the Filipino seafarers,” the DFA said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Filipino seafarers won’t be getting additional compensation whenever their vessels cruise the Strait of Hormuz.
In a resolution, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) withdrew the classification of the Strait of Hormuz as temporary extended risk zone.
The POEA said the International Bargaining Forum (IBF) recently amended and removed the strait in the list of high risk zones.
The Strait of Hormuz is located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
It is the only passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.
Under POEA rules, Filipino seafarers on board foreign vessels are provided double compensation when passing high risk zones or identified pirate-infested areas.
– With Mayen Jaymalin