17 Filipinos among seamen freed by Somali pirates

MANILA, Philippines—Crew members of a hijacked oil tanker, including 17 Filipino sailors, have been freed unharmed by their captors after two months, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday.

DFA spokesperson Eduardo Malaya said the department received reports Friday about the release from captivity of the Greek-flagged MV Irene SL, which was hijacked by Somali pirates in the North Arabian Sea on February 9.

“The crew are in good health,” Malaya said in a text message. Reports indicated that the crew was composed of, apart from the Filipinos, seven Greeks and a Georgian.

The DFA said arrangements were “underway for the Filipino seafarers’ return to the Philippines and the warm embrace of their family members who patiently awaited this event for so long.”