22 May 2006 – Philippine Ambassador-designate to Ankara Bahnarim A. Guinomla reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that legal and consular assistance is being provided for Filipino seafarer Fidel Solangon Del Rosario, Jr. who is detained in Turkey along with his Ukrainian captain for involvement in a shipping accident on 26 April 2006 in the waters of Turkey.

Ambassador Guinomla said that the shipping agent of OFW Del Rosario, Golden Horn Shipping Transportation and Trading Ltd. in Istanbul, has hired two lawyers to handle the case and that the Embassy’s Assistance-to-National officer, Mr. Douveylito A. Tangcay, is coordinating the shipping agent on further assistance that may be extended to the OFW.

Ambassador Guinomla instructed ATN assistant Tangcay “to continue coordinating with the concerned agencies and authorities to insure that the rights and welfare of OFW Del Rosario are protected."

In his report, the Ambassador said OFW Del Rosario, 31 years old, with Seaman's Book No. B 315588, was arrested after his tug boat T/B Sandy Cape, under the flag of St. Vincent and the Grenadine, rammed into MV Hacilbrahim, under the flag of Turkey, while pulling the vessel MV Iran Madani, under the flag of Iran, off the coast of Gemlik Gulf near Bursa, western Turkey on 26 April 2006.   Mr. Del Rosario was detained together with his Ukrainian captain.

Ambassador Guinomla said that based on the reports received by the Embassy, the accident resulted in the sinking of the Turkish-flagged ship and the death of five out of nine seaman. The remaining four seamen were rescued.   The reports further indicated that three Iranian seamen were also arrested.

Upon receipt of the report, Ambassador Guinomla said the Embassy immediately coordinated with the OFW Del Rosario's shipping agent, who informed ATN officer Tangcay that  two lawyers, who are experts in maritime and criminal laws, have been hired to handle the case.

The Ambassador added that one of the lawyers indicated to the Embassy that the first hearing has not been scheduled yet as other lawyers are still studying and examining the case.

The Ambassador informed the Department that the representatives of Golden Horn Shipping, together with their lawyers, visited OFW Del Rosario at the Bursa Prison on 11 May 2006 prior to his presentation in court in Bursa together with the other detainees in the case.

On 18 May 2006, Ambassador Guinomla said the Embassy received a notification from the Bursa Governor's Office that Del Rosario was transferred to a detention center at Foreigners Bureau, Directorate Security of Bursa on 17 May 2006.

The Ambassador said the Embassy will inform the Department on further developments in this case. END