After more than four months in captivity, 2 Filipino seafarers aboard the Thai-owned Thai Union 3 were released Sunday off the coast of Somalia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday. The fishing vessel was hijacked by two pirate skiffs about 370 km (200 nautical miles) north of the Seychelles on October 29, 2009. Among those hostaged along with the Filipinos were 23 Russians and two Ghanaians. The DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) has coordinated with the manning agency, who confirmed that the ship and its crew has been released from captivity. The manning agency said that the Filipino crew were all in good condition, and is currently arranging the crew's repatriation to the Philippines. Details for the repatriation are still being coordinated. Earlier, 17 Filipino seafarers aboard the Taiwanese-flagged FV Win Far 161, which was released from captivity off the coast of Somalia on February 11, arrived in Manila from Kaoshung, Taiwan. Only three Filipinos remain in captivity off Somalia, onboard the MV St. James Park. This is the lowest number of Filipino seafarers in custody of Somali pirates in recent times.
