MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is working with Nigeria and Switzerland to get additional information on the condition of the seven Filipino seafarers abducted off the coast of Nigeria.
The seven Filipinos were among the 12 crew members of Swiss-owned MV Glarus, who were kidnapped by armed men last Saturday.
"The Philippine Embassies in Abuja and Berne are making the necessary coordination with concerned authorities in Nigeria and Switzerland to get additional information on the condition and whereabouts of the seven Filipino crew members of the MV Glarus," DFA spokesperson Elmer Cato said.
The 12 of 19 crew members of the vessel were taken as they were making war from Lagos to Port Harcourt, according to the Philippine Embassy in Abuja.
Five other Filipinos and two foreign nationals were left aboard the ship as the dozen crew members were taken by gunmen.
It was unclear why the seven remaining crew members were not taken, according to Ambassador to Nigeria Shirley Ho Vicario.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has ordered the DFA Office of Migrant Workers Affairs to assist the families of the seven abducted Filipino seafarers.
This would not be the first time that Filipino seafarers were kidnapped in Nigerian waters.
In October last year, four Filipino seamen were kidnapped from their ship as it approached a port in the Niger Delta. They were part of a German container vessel crew. — Patricia Lourdes Viray