A Filipino seaman was shot by Somali pirates according to the report taken from the Department of Labor, Tuesday.
It was in the country of Seychelles near the Indian Ocean where the seaman was held captive on a cargo ship.
The seaman was identified to be a Filipino named as Farolito Vallega, 48, and was on board last January 26 by a German owned ship, MV Beluga Navigation, said Rosalinda Dimapilis – Baldoz, Labor secretary.
The Department of Labor had just received such information since it was only belatedly relayed by the Marlow Navigation Philippines, Inc. which is the Beluga Nomination’s local manning agency.
Anger was at hand why Vallega was shot dead by the pirates of Somali according to the quoted report of Baldoz.
It was said that Somali pirates have hijacked the Beluga Nomination, January 22, off the Seychelles’ coast.
There were 12 crew members on board on the said vessel where seven of them were Filipinos. The rest were Ukrainian, Polish and Russian.
Vallega died, one Filipino is missing and another had survived through jumping overboard until he was luckily saved.
The rescued seafarer was known to be Ferdinand Aquino, 46, the vessel’s cook.
The missing crew was the wiper of the vessel named Elviro Salazar, 26 while the other four had remained as captives. All were known to be Filipinos.
Continued negotiations are still on the process so as to release the hostages including Salazar’s retrieval together with Vallega’s body.
Baldoz expressed deep condolences to family and relatives of the killed seaman. Where, there was an expression of condemnation over Somali pirates for their senseless disregard of human life.
Possible (–foul word(s) removed–)istance was extended to Vallega’s family as well as that of Salazar’s family with the cooperation of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
Working for the death benefits for Vallega, the manning agency continues to work for its approval. Along with it is the giving of continued allotment for the remaining Filipino seamen.
A plan of action was discussed by Baldoz so Filipino seafarers will have more safeguarding measures when they will be on board especially along the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. Such water territory are said to be pirate prone areas.
An international campaign for sea piracy was taken into action by the DoLE officials, OWWA, POEA, the Joint Manning Group and the (–foul word(s) removed–)ociated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines and also by the Maritime Training Council.
Updated plan of action have been set for Filipino seafarers in order for them to provide more protection on them. Such topic was retrieved while the latest anti-piracy procedures were also given (–foul word(s) removed–)sment.