Pinoy captain in Nigeria ship hijacking freed - DFA

MANILA, Philippines - Abuben Marciales, the Filipino captain of a ship hijacked in Nigerian waters was released by his captors last August 3, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) told reporters on Monday.

Esteban Conejos Jr, DFA undersecretary for migrant workers affairs, said Marciales was among those on board the ship when it was hijacked last July 24. As of posting time, the DFA has not yet released further details regarding Marciales' release.

The Philippine government has imposed a ban in the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to Nigeria since December 2007.

Last month, the DFA confirmed reports that Nigerian authorities were holding 15 Filipino seamen on suspicion of stealing several barrels of crude oil from the said north African country.

DFA spokesperson Claro Cristobal said a military task force arrested the seamen last July 11 off Brass, Bayelsa in southern Nigeria.

"The seamen were reported unable to account for the origin of crude oil on board their vessel," Cristobal said.

Nigerian authorities brought the Filipinos to Nigeria's capital, Abuja City, for investigation.
- MJ UBALDE, GMANews.TV

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