14 seamen come home after Somalia ordeal

Fourteen seamen who endured 41 days of captivity after being abducted by Somali pirates returned to the country yesterday.

They were welcomed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) by their relatives and Vice President Noli de Castro, presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers, as they planed in on board a Malaysian Airlines flight.

The seamen served on M/T Bunga Melati 2 and Bunga Melati 5. The Bunga Melati 2, which was seized by Somali pirates last Aug. 19, was freed on Monday along with its remaining 38-man crew, including nine Filipino seamen and the remains of seaman Jason Dumagat, 26.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) identified the nine seamen as Romulo Buhayang, Ariel Obja-an, Rodolfo Buinanao Jr., Benito Adecer, Macario Pacione III, Ronan Maranan, Rading Maguan, Leo Andrew Sitjar, and Eleanor Madriaga.

Reports said five Filipino seamen and 31 others manning the Bunga Melati 5 were released Sept. 29. The five sailors were identified as Eduardo Lasprillas, Aldrin Palomo, Manuel America Jr., Rhageb Salabao, and Ulyseise Maguslog.

The DFA said there are still 64 Filipino seamen held captive by Somali pirates who hijacked the vessels M/V Stella Maris, M/T Irene, M/T Stolt Valor, and M/V Centauri at the Gulf of Adens.

Buhayang, who has been a seafarer for 31 years, said their abductors treated them well and told them they “only want money, we don’t want war.”

“In spite of what happened to us, I’ll still go on a boat. This is our livelihood and chosen profession so I can’t turn my back on it,” he said.

Adecer thanked officials of the MISC, which deployed them, for being there for them throughout their captivity.

Capt. Rajalingam Subramaniam, vice president of Fleet Management Services of the MISC Maritime based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said “the best benefit we gave to the Filipino seafarers is their release. But they are entitled to double hazard pay, medical treatment until recuperation and vacation leaves with pay,” Subramaniam said.

He also said that if the seamen decide to rejoin MISC, the firm will double their pay if they pass through the Gulf of Adens again.