Kin of 7 jailed PH seamen in Libya ask Duterte’s help; Filipino seamen missing, says DFA

Kin of 7 jailed PH seamen in Libya ask Duterte’s help
WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL January 15, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/kin-of-7-jailed-ph-seamen-in-libya-ask-duter...

THE families of seven Filipino seamen currently detained in Libya for alleged attempted oil smuggling appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to have them transferred to “a more secured detention facility” because “we fear for their lives.”

Crystal Allera, wife of Second Officer Claro Allera, in a press conference on Tuesday, led relatives in appealing to the President, as they pointed to the ongoing civil strife and asked him to form a special task force that would focus on the prisoners who have been languishing in jail for the past 17 months.

All seven detained seamen were officers of MT Levante, an oil tanker operated by the Evalend Shipping Tankers based in Athens, Greece.

Aside from Allera, the others were identified as Master Arthur Taleno, First Officer Fulgencio Eulogio, Third Officer Abraham Naduma Jr., Chief Engineer Ronnie Moniva, Second Engineer Gil Cruzada and Third Engineer Aldwin Emperado.

Thirteen other Filipino crewmen of the same vessel have been ordered released by the court and repatriated to the Philippines.

Filipino seamen missing, says DFA
PNA January 15, 2019 http://manilastandard.net/news/national/285427/filipino-seamen-missing-s...

Five Filipino seafarers were reported missing by the Department of Foreign Affairs after abandoning their burning cargo vessel off Hawaii.

According to Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato, the seamen have yet to be found two weeks since the incident occurred.

The five were among 21 Filipino crew members of the MV Sincerity Ace, who abandoned the Panamanian-flagged vessel after it caught fire on New Year’s Eve, some 1,800 nautical miles northwest of Oahu.

Cato said a tugboat and another vessel had been sent to the area to locate the five missing sailors.

The 16 other Filipino seafarers were rescued by the United States Coast Guard and other passing merchant vessels.

Cato said most of the rescued seafarers have already returned to the Philippines.

Sincerity Ace was en route to Hawaii from Japan and was carrying 3,500 brand new vehicles when the fire broke out, forcing the crew to abandon ship.