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Filipino seafarers reach home

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DUBAI — Nine of the 20 Filipino seafarers who returned to the UAE on Wednesday after being held hostage for 109 days by pirates off the coast of Somalia were reunited yesterday with their families in the Philippines, a top official of the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) said.

Published: Sun 6 Aug 2006, 10:14 AM

Updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 6:02 PM

  • By
  • Criselda E. Diala

Philippine Consul General Antonio S. Curameng told Khaleej Times that Julius Nidera, Narciso Perfecto, Nelson Gipulla, Meynard Garcia, Ronnie Mendoza and Alex Genanda were scheduled to reach Manila last evening, while Gregorio Ilagan, Deogracio Manalo, and Rolando Cogama, who were on another flight, were scheduled to arrive in Manila a little later.

"Five of the seamen are still undergoing the routine physical and medical examination. They have also expressed their desire to go home for a holiday before returning to their respective posts in Akron," Curameng said.

The Philippine consulate official also disclosed that six of the M/T Lin 1 crew, including Captain Pablo Buaya, have opted to stay in the UAE and finish their contract with the Fujairah-based company, Akron Trade and Transport. The all-Filipino crew was held hostage by armed men in Somalia on March 29 shortly after the oil tanker M/T Lin 1 had offloaded its bunker fuel in Mogadishu. On July 15, the PCG and Akron Trade and Transport had announced the safe release of the sailors.



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