FILSEAMEN IN NIGERIA TO ARRIVE HOME
February 18, 2009

Vice President and presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Noli “Kabayan” De Castro said yesterday that six of the nine Filipino seamen reportedly stranded in Lagos, Nigeria will arrive in Manila, tomorrow, February 19, after he ordered the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the local manning agency that contracted these seamen to immediately bring home the said group of seafarers.

These 9 Filipino seamen were part of the 18-man crew previously on board M/T Meredith and were said to have escaped an attack by armed pirates last January 21 at Bonny Terminal in Nigeria.

“The families of the seafarers informed our office that their loved ones have already been transferred from a supply boat (EVA 2) to a tugboat (Gallant) and now on their way to Lomé Port in Ghana, West Africa. They reported that 3 of them were not able to join the group that will be repatriated as they were the ones left to man M/T Meredith. We confirmed this with Seagem and with the Philippine embassy in Abuja, Nigeria,” De Castro said.

De Castro said the 6 Filipino seamen who are to return home via flight GF154 are Rogelio Andales, Raymon de Domingo, Gloriand Sales, Michael Domingo, Alfredo Ferrer, Jebb Alonte. While the three left behind are Novelito Trapsi, Elmer Cruz and George Parreño.

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.

“Seagem, through Capt. Jun Tuason explained that their agency immediately acted upon our request. The three seafarers who remained in Nigeria will be included in the next batch to be repatriated. While OWWA Chief Carmelita Dimzon said that assistance to the group will be given upon their arrival in Manila,” De Castro said.

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