04 March 2004 – Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Rafael Seguis today said that he has received confirmation that the seven Filipino crewmen of the hijacked freighter M/V Margot, which was intercepted by the US Coast Guard on 26 February 2004 off the coast of Miami, are safe.

“Our Embassy in Washington, which has been closely monitoring the situation, has assured us that all seven of the Margot’s Filipino crew are free from danger,” Acting Secretary Seguis said. “In light of this incident, we would like to caution all Filipino seafarers to exercise discretion when traveling to or docking at ports of countries experiencing conflict.”

Some 22 Haitian nationals reportedly boarded the Margot and took her crew hostage when it docked in Gonaives, Haiti’s fourth largest city. The hijackers then proceeded to commandeer the ship to the United States. They were intercepted by the US Coast Guard 11 kilometers off the coast of Miami Beach.

The Embassy has been in contact with APQ Crew USA, the vessel’s shipping agent in the US, which confirmed the hijacking, as well as the safety of the Filipino crew and the arrest of the Haitians.

Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Rafael Seguis has instructed the Embassy to continue to monitor the case and to provide further assistance to the Filipino seamen should they require it. - END