21 Filipino seamen seized by Somali pirates

MANILA, April 8 -- The Philippine government on Wednesday said 21

Filipino seafarers have been taken hostage in two new hijacking incidents last

Monday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said 17 Filipino seafarers were aboard

Win Far 161 while four were on the MV Malaspina Castle, hijacked by Somali

pirates on April 6.

With the recent incident, the number of Filipino seafarers in captivity

rose to 117, involving seven vessels, the department said.

It said Manila continues to coordinate closely with concerned foreign

governmental authorities and the local manning agencies of the captured vessels

for the early and safe release of the Filipino seafarers.

The Philippines supplies a third of all of the world's sailors. The 350,000

Filipino sailors operate on major oil tankers, luxury liners and passenger

vessels around the globe.