Bello handling OFW abductions in Africa – Palace


By VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA News
Malacañang on Tuesday said Labor Secretary SIlvestre Bello III was handling the kidnapping cases of Filipino seafarers in Africa.
“We are concerned about the kidnapping and Secretary Bello is handling it,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said at a news conference.
Two more Filipino sailors were abducted by pirates in West Africa, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday. 
The Filipinos were kidnapped in Togo a week after nine seafarers from the Philippines were kidnapped in the neighboring African state of Benin.
This latest incident brings to 11 the total number of Filipinos being held hostage in West Africa.
The DFA was “actively tracking” developments in the abductions, with the embassy in Nigeria continuing its coordination with relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of the Filipino seafarers.
Piracy and ransom kidnappings of Filipino sailors by pirates in the dangerous African waters have long been a problem for the Philippine government, which lacked the ability to monitor their movements when at sea.
The Philippines is one of the largest providers of shipping manpower in the world. — DVM, GMA News

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