MANILA, Philippines—The number of seamen from the Philippines being held hostage by Somali pirates in the Horn of Africa is down to 45 from 106 since July with the release yesterday of the Iranian bulk carrier M/V Iran Deyanat which has a crew of two Filipinos and 29 other foreign nationals.

The Iran Deyanat was hijacked off Somalia on Aug. 21.

Vice President Noli de Castro and Foreign Undersecretary Esteban Conejos confirmed the release of Sergio Paloma, 44, of Leyte, and Reynaldo Uy Jr., 30, of Davao.

De Castro said the Department of Foreign Affairs was coordinating with the ship’s owners on the repatriation of the two seamen.

Conejos said the crew was in good condition but he was not in a position to say if ransom had been paid by the ship owners as the DFA did not take part in ransom negotiations, it being against the Philippines’ no-ransom policy.

Conejos said the ship was heading towards Muscat, Oman, and was expected to arrive there on Oct. 13 or 14.

Last Thursday, the all-Filipino crew of the Japan-operated bulk carrier M/T Stella Marris, which was seized on July 20, was set free by Somali pirates.

The day before, 15 Filipinos, along with four foreign nationals, on the Japanese chemical tanker M/T Irene were also freed.

De Castro said that only three ships with Filipinos on board were still being held by pirates since July.

These were the MT Stolt Valor, a Hong Kong chemical tanker with two Filipinos and 31 other nationals on board, seized on Sept. 15; the MV Centauri, a Greek tanker with a 26-man all-Filipino crew, seized on Sept. 17; and the MV Capt. Stephanos, another Greek ship, with 17 Filipinos, seized on Sept. 21.

Reports said the Iran Deyanat, a 44,468-ton bulk carrier owned and operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, was suspected by the pirates to be carrying weapons destined for Islamic insurgents, a claim Tehran denied. Cynthia D. Balana