DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 

SFA-AGR-618-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       05 September  2005

DFA TAKES STEPS TO SECURE RELEASE OF TWELVE FILIPINO CREWMEMBERS OF TAIWANESE VESSEL SEIZED BY SOMALI REBELS

05 September 2005 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo today announced that the Department is taking all possible steps in coordination with Taiwanese authorities to secure the safe release of twelve Filipino crewmembers of three Taiwanese fishing boats seized on 16 August 2005 by Marejan soldiers at the Kismayu harbor in Somalia.

“The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan continues to monitor the situation and to liaise between the Philippine Government and the Taiwanese authorities to find ways of jointly effecting the release of the vessels and its crewmembers,” Secretary Romulo said.

In a communication dated 2 September 2005, Taiwanese authorities informed MECO Representative Antonio I. Basilio that on 16 August 2005, three Taiwanese fishing boats namely, Hsin Lien Fa No. 36, Chieng Qing Feng and Chung Yi No. 218, were seized by Marehan soldiers at the Kismayu harbor in Somalia.  On 24 August 2005, the vessel owners and family members of the crew sought the assistance of the Taiwanese authorities in securing their release from the Somalian rebel army. The three fishing vessels have a mixed-nationality crew composed of Filipinos, Indonesians, Vietnamese and Chinese.

Taiwanese authorities identified the twelve Filipino crewmembers on board Chieng Qinq Feng fishing boat as:”

1) Jimmy T. Gomez;
2) Juner M. Diacan
3) Efren N. Nava;
4) Melchor Mandanas;
5) Amado Espina;
6) Agustin L. Ybanez;
7) Janito Ranido;
8) Ramon delos Santos;
9) Eduardo Monleon;
10) Primo Galania;
11) Rodel Tagawalo; and
12) Erwin Alminana.
The captain of the Chieng Qing Feng fishing boat is a Taiwanese national.

MECO Representative Basilio informed Secretary Romulo that Taiwanese authorities have requested assistance of the Philippine Government in the efforts to secure the release of the crewmembers.   For its part, Taiwan assured that the vessels’ owners and  the vessels’ service company are actively negotiating with the Somalian rebel army for the release of the vessels and its crewmembers.   Taiwanese authorities have also  sought help from the United Nations representatives in Somalia.

Secretary Romulo said the Department is coordinating with Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, the Labor Representative in Taiwan and MECO Representative Basilio in the efforts to secure the release of the OFWs held in Somalia. END
 
 
 

/jay