VP NOLI: HELP ON THE WAY FOR 9 FILSEAMEN STRANDED IN NIGERIA
February 15, 2009

Vice President and presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) asked yesterday Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Chief Carmelita Dimzon to immediately facilitate the repatriation of nine Filipino seafarers reportedly stranded in Lagos , Nigeria .

De Castro said that these 9 Filipino seamen were part of the 18-man crew previously on board M/T Meredith and were said to have been attacked by armed pirates last January 21 while in Bonny Terminal in Nigeria.

The Filipino crewmen were contracted by local manning agency SEAGEM Maritime Int’l. The ship is reportedly owned by Corinthian Maritime SA, Golden Carrier Shipping and Maritime Management Synergy SA.

As per report received by the Office of the Vice President, the Filipino crewmen were able to escape the armed pirates due to the maneuverings done by the ship captain, Capt. Hilario Martinez and thereafter brought M/T Meredith to Lagos.

The crew was reportedly transferred to EVA 2, a supply boat in Nigeria also owned by Corinthian Maritime SA. Nine of these 18 seafarers were able to acquire assistance for their repatriation.

The following crew members who are still left in Lagos, needing immediate help are – Rogelio Andales, Novelito Trapsi, Raymon de Domingo, Gloriand Sales, Michael Domingo, Alfredo Ferrer, Elmer Cruz, Jebb Alonte and George Parreño,

De Castro said that he already contacted SEAGEM Maritime Int’l to answer the immediate repatriation of the group but the latter explained that their agency is currently under preventive suspension by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

“Wanting a faster response to the need of the seafarers, my office asked OWWA Administrator Dimzon to facilitate the repatriation. She advised that despite suspension, SEAGEM is duty bound to repatriate the said Filseamen. If SEAGEM cannot meet their obligation immediately, OWWA can shoulder the expenses of repatriation subject to reimbursement by SEAGEM,” De Castro said.

“I just want to assure to the families of the 9 Filipino seafarers that the government is working for the immediate and safe repatriation of their loved ones,” De Castro said.

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