Pirates free Filipinos after 10 months

[iolsa]

Manila -  

Fourteen Filipino sailors have been freed unharmed by Somali pirates after 10 months in captivity on a hijacked Greek-owned oil tanker, the Philippines said on Tuesday.

The Filipinos were among 26 crew members of the M/T Smyrni that was hijacked on May 10 off the coast of Oman. The ship and the crew  were released March 9.

"All of the crew members are in good physical condition," Foreign Ministry spokesman Raul Hernandez said. "The vessel and its  crew are now en route to Salalah, Oman."

Nine Filipino crewmen from two other ships were still being held  captive by Somali pirates, Hernandez said. - Sapa-dpa



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