By APD writer Melo M. Acuna

MANILA, Oct.31 (APD) – At least eleven Filipino seafarers fell into the hands of suspected pirates responsible for the hijacking of two vessels in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs home office received word from Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria Shirley Ho-Vicario that two Filipino seafarers on board a Liberian-flagged container ship were among 11 crewmembers kidnapped by pirates who boarded their vessel on Saturday, October 27.

She said eight other Filipino seafarers on a Panamanian-registered tanker along with nine other crew members remain unaccounted for after their vessel was hijacked by pirates last Monday, October 29.

Ambassador Ho-Vicario said they are exerting efforts to establish the whereabouts of the ten seafarers and secure their safe release.

According to the DFA statement released at about 4:30 PM today, it was not immediately known if the seafarers were taken by the same group of pirates responsible for the abduction of seven Filipino on board a Swiss-flagged vessel of Nigerian waters last September 22.

It will be recalled the seven seafarers were released last Sunday and were reported to be in Zurich on their way to Manila.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)