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Report: 15 Philippine seamen freed by Somali pirates
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-09 11:41

MANILA -- Fifteen Filipino seafarers on board a Japanese-operated chemical tanker were freed by Somali pirates Wednesday evening, Philippine media reported Thursday.

The seafarers had been hijacked for 49 days in the African waters.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Claro Cristobal told local TV network GMA News that the freed sailors are all safe and are being sent to United Arab Emirates before returning to the Philippines.

Cristobal said his department is coordinating with ship owners for the repatriation of the Filipino seamen.

The latest development brings to 67 the remaining Filipinos abducted by pirates in the Horn of Africa since July this year.

Manila has a standing policy of non-payment of ransom and does not directly negotiate with the hostage-takers.