By: Joyce Pangco Pañares
Thursday, July 24, 2008
He said the owner of the Panama-flagged m/v Stella Maris had already spoken with the hijackers, who were said to be demanding a ransom to release the vessel and its crew.
“I was assured that contact has already been established between the pirates and the owners and that all the Filipinos crew are safe and sound,” Conejos told reporters.
He ruled out paying a ransom.
“It is the policy of government not to negotiate with the pirates. We look at the manning agency and the host country to do that because they are the ones responsible for their release,” he said.
The merchant vessel was seized while it was sailing in the Gulf of Aden near Calula, a port in Somalia’s breakaway northern region of Puntland.
Puntland officials said at least 38 heavily armed pirates stormed the ship, which was said to be carrying lead and zinc.
Five Filipino seamen were similarly held hostage after pirates hijacked their ship in the same area.
The vessel and its passengers were released one month after, and the Filipino crew arrived home early this month.
Source: Manila Standard, July 24, 2008