8 Filipino seafarers rescued from pirates back in PH

MANILA, Philippines—The eight Filipino seafarers who were rescued by the Iranian Navy from Somali pirates off the Indian coast last April 2 arrived home Wednesday night.

They arrived on a Malaysian Airlines flight MH804, which landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 9 p.m.

The Filipino sailors were among the crew members on the Iranian-owned Eglantine ship that was hijacked by pirates last March 26 off the southwestern coast of India.

Two other Filipinos died during the rescue mission.

A report reaching the Department of Foreign Affairs revealed that the pirates used the crew members as human shields during the operation.

One of the Filipinos died of a gunshot wound to the head and the other of suffocation as he hid inside the ship’s engine room.