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Seafarers Taken Hostage
in Somalia Got Nothing from OWWA
The 20 Filipino seamen who were held hostage by Somali
militants for 108 days did not get any welfare remuneration from the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), which was what its mandate actually
says.
In earlier news reports following their release from their
Somali captors, it was mentioned that DOLE facilitated the grant for the
ordeal that the Filipino seafarers have underwent.
“We would all have been happy if that there was a grant
from the government involved,” said one of the six seamen who trooped to
the office of the United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) to air their sentiments
on the lack of government support to their cause.
“While it is true that we were paid by the shipowner
for our regular allotment even while we’re under the capture of Somali
militants, the money represents our basic pay, our leave pay, damage to
personal effects and also to serve as sort of consolation or danyos-perwisyo
for the traumatic incident that we’ve all underwent as hostages,” cites
one of the officers of the hardluck tanker M/T Lin 1.
The M/T Lin 1 was hijacked by Somali militants armed with
long weapons and all its 20 Filipino crew were held hostage from March
29 to July 15, 2006.
One of the crew of M/T Lin 1 was ordinary seaman John
Dalaguete, who previously worked with UFS as a cadet volunteer. This was
the reason why when M/T Lin 1 Chief Officer Julius Nidera was taken by
his Somali captors on land sometime during their ordeal and asked to make
three phone calls, UFS was one of those he had called; the other two being
Julius Babao of ABS-CBN Channel 2 and his family.
The UFS called the office of the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) to inquire about additional benefits for the traumatized
seafarers and were told that none will be accorded to them unless any of
them were hospitalized or died during the procrastinated hostage process.
No one among the 20 seafarers was hospitalized during the incident but
they were all visibly traumatized.
One of the M/T Lin 1 crew was even quoted to have said:
“If the government can give financial considerations to those Filipinos
who have been held hostage in Iraq not too long ago, why can’t we be given
the same treatment? Like Angelo Dela Cruz who was taken by Iraqis and held
hostage for a long time, we also underwent the same traumatic experience.
Perhaps the government should apply the same standard in our case and provide
us with the appropriate benefits.”
Engr. Nelson P. Ramirez, president of the UFS, backs the
seafarers’ claim, citing that they should be given what is due to them.
He assured them that the UFS will communicate with the
appropriate government agencies and institutions related to seafarers’
cause. |
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NEWS & FEATURES
PANAMA BLINKS: Pulls the Plug
on its Panamanian Maritime Law Course for Officers
By Rey Gambe
Crewing Managers Pulling All Stops
to Derail MLC
By Rey Gambe
7th LSM Manning Confab in Manila
Set
UFS Takes Maritime Week to Seafarers
UFS Cadets Gets Scholarship from
Labor Department
PCG Capabilities Under Scrutiny
Seafarers Taken Hostage in Somalia
Got Nothing from OWWA
Contribute your ideas online!
Express your opinion!
You can now
any discussion on seafarer's issues anytime or anywhere you are with
Usapang
Marino
(Seafarer's
Forum)
at URL: http://www.ufs.ph/phpBB2
Need a break?
Participate in seafarer’s
sports while in Rotterdam and Antwerp?
ISS/ICSW, in cooperation
with Friends of UFS in Rotterdam, has initiated a host of sports activities
for seafarers calling ports in Rotterdam and Antwerp. For more information,
contact Jorg Pfautsch, telephone number 0032-478-292469, or UFS-Rotterdam
at 010-4668300. |
THE
SEAMAN’S CHURCH INSTITUTE OF NY & NJ
International Seafarers’
Center
118 Export Street, Port
Newark,
New Jersey 07114
TELEPHONE (973) 589-5828
FAX (973) 8565
WE WELCOME YOU!
– MON - FRI 8:30 AM to10
PM
– SATURDAY 4 to10 PM
– SUNDAY 4 to 10 PMFree
Transportation to the center / Worship service, prayer meetings, and counseling
is provided aboard ship by request, and the Mariner’s Chapel / Cross &
Anchor calling cards – low rates for domestic and international calls ($10
and $20 cards available) / Books, Bibles, magazines, religious materials,
trucker resources, and used clothing / Postal services (U.S. mail, priority
/ express mail, Fedex) available / Money orders and money gram services
to all countries / Cash remittance to the Philippines / Internet access,
email services, faxes / Sports & Entertainment–large screen TV, ping
pong, darts, billiards, soccer, basketball, and video games / Fitness Center
/ Shower–no charge for seafarers / Gift Shop–candy, greeting cards, soda,
souvenirs, health and beauty products, clothing / New Jersey Gardens–the
largest outlet mall in NJ just 15 minutes away / Bus service is available
/ Balikbayan box shopping, UPS / Restaurant / Bar–Breakfast, lunch, and
dinner.
Serving the ports of Newark,
Elizabeth, Jersey City, Bayonne, Port Reading, Kearny, Linden, Carteret,
Perth Amboy, Staten Island, and Brooklyn |
NOTICE TO THE
PUBLIC
Rolly Pagaspas is not
in any way connected with the United Filipino Seafarers (UFS). He was assigned
as event director during the 1st UFS National Summit last September 2004
but he disappeared two days before the event. Any transaction entered into
by Mr. Pagaspas will not be honored by UFS. |
