DFA monitors 20 Pinoys stranded on ship


By Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 08/05/2013 7:44 PM | Updated as of 08/05/2013 11:14 PM
MANILA - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it is closely monitoring the plight of 20 Filipino seafarers stranded aboard a cargo ship in Malta.
DFA Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez said that upon learning of the situation of the Filipino crew and their Pakistani ship captain, they contacted the agency here in the Philippines who assured that the ship is in the process of a crew change following financial difficulties from the shipping company.
The crew has been provided fuel and other supplies, and will be replaced as soon as the company gets funds to pay the crew's salaries. It was learned the seafarers' salaries have been delayed for months already.
Crew member Edgardo Hinobiagon earlier told ABS-CBN News that crew members on board the M/V A Ladybug have been abandoned by their Taiwanese employers and that they are now running out of supplies.
Hinobiagon said the ship has run out of fuel and power and crew members, led by Captain Zafar Abbsi, fear that they will run out of food stock.

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