(Eagle News)–The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, Sept. 25, confirmed seven of the 12 crew members who were abducted from a ship off the coast of Nigeria were Filipinos.
In a statement, the DFA said it was taking the necessary steps to ensure the safe release” of the Filipino crew members of the MV Glarus who were taken as the Swiss-owned vessel was making its way from Lagos to Port Harcourt.
The vessel had 19 crew members.
Ambassador to Nigeria Shirley Ho Vicario said of the seven who were left on board the vessel, five were Filipinos and two foreign nationals.
It was not immediately clear why they were not taken.
According to the DFA, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has directed the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs (OMWA) to “notify and extend the necessary assistance to the families in the Philippines of the seven Filipino seafarers.”