VP NOLI OUTLINES MEASURES VS SOMALI PIRATE ATTACKS
September 20, 2008

Vice President and Presidential Adviser on OFWs Noli 'Kabayan' De Castro said that contrary to several perceptions, the government has measures to protect Filipino seamen from Somali pirate attacks.

One way, he said, is for the government to issue directives to local manning agency to avoid placements where ships carrying Filipino crewmen have to pass near Somali waters.

De Castro explained that the best way to avoid being attacked by Somali pirates is to keep away from the 200 nautical miles off the waters of the hostile African country.

Pirates are likely to attack ships that pass near the territorial waters of Somalia as shown by the case of the German ship which was intercepted by armed Somali pirates last August 21.

The crew that included the nine rescued Filipino seamen was taken hostage until their release last September 11. The OFWs arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) 1 the yesterday (September 19) and were welcomed by De Castro and the DFA.

Another solution, De Castro said, is for the government to support proposals from other nations that call for ships to sail on convoy when passing near Somali waters.

De Castro said that aside from these efforts, the government is backing a resolution passed and approved by the United Nations (UN) Security Council two months ago. The resolution, he said, directs ships to travel within the safe zone based on the coordinates provided by the united forces of US, Europe, Canada , Pakistan and other countries.

Said resolution, he added, calls for the coalition forces to intensify security in areas where pirate attacks occur.

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