Somali pirates have released a Greek-managed ship with 22 Filipino crewmen after five months in captivity, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) here said Tuesday, quoting the hijacked ship's local manning agency. The manning agency, Bright Maritime Corp.,did not say when the seamen and MV Irene were released but said the Greek-owned vessel was seized by the pirates on on the Gulf of Aden on April 14 while on its way to India from Jordan. The DFA said Bright Maritime officials were working on the repatriation of the Filipino seamen Bright Maritime officials said they negotiations for the release of the vessel and the Filipino crew had been successful and that the agency is now working for the seamen's repatriation. With the release of the 22 MV Irene crew, the total number of Filipino seafarers in the custody of Somali pirates had gone down to 20 from two vessels. Somali pirates usually do not hurt their hostages and only demand hefty ransom from ship owners. A Filipino seafarer died by accident when the prates boarded his ship. Malaca?ang had refused to give orders to the DFA to pay any part of the $2.8 million ransom (about P137 million) for the release of the 22 seafarers from MV Irene. The victims' families had earlier appealed to the Philippine government, the United Nations, the African Union and other international organizations to help for the release the hostages. It was not clear if theSomali pirates got money in exchange for the release of the MV Irene and its crew.
