COURAGEOUS SEAMEN

We have read or listened to the most harrowing stories of Filipino Seafarers caught in the business of “oil bunkering” here in Niger Delta, Nigeria , and they keep on happening and being highlighted in the news, but not the story of the 4 Filipino seamen who refused to succumb to earning a few dollars more…. AT LAST REAL OFW HEROES THAT SPEAK OF HONESTY OF THE FILIPINO WORKING CLASS.

Capt. Roy C. Hidalgo, Divers Rudy B. Torres, Gil G. Canete, Jaime Jimenez - Four good seamen who refused to follow the evil instruction of the Greek principal to do OIL BUNKERING. And so, Capt. Hidalgo abandoned the ship he manned, tagging with him the 3 Filipino divers. Ran they did and being helped by some Filipinos working in Lagos . They found their way to our Philippine Embassy in Abuja , Nigeria , where they received good assistance from our Embassy staff led by our Charge D’Affaires, Atty. Alimatar Garangan.

Yes, oil bunkering is sabotaging the economy of Nigeria , and unfortunately our Filipino seamen are thrown in to a difficult situation.
Moral questions arise.
‘Do I allow myself to be a pawn on the “money” board?’
‘What if I get caught and land in the prison that is described as a “death wish” zone?’
‘But money is good, and how could I say no to my principal, or how could I not be a part of the game when majority of the crew cannot do anything but follow the instruction, albeit evil it may be?’

Result, 22 more Filipino seamen caught 3 weeks back, plus another 15 more just caught this week are now in the hands of the Nigerian Authorities. For the nth time same story involving the same players, and poor Filipino seafarers who just wanted to give a good life to their loved ones are forced between the rock and a stone, unknown to them.

But not Roy, Rudy, Gil & Jaime. They are now on the way home, without fanfare. But this is the kind of story that CFO and CMA must be pleased to hear and crave about and to highlight the good deed these 4 Filipino seamen just did.

Capt. Hidalgo, Rudy, Gil and Jim
As Capt. Hidalgo courageously said during Pusong Pinoy’s Chirstmas Party last Dec. 7 held at the Phil. Embassy, “Never mind if I will lose the opportunity to man a ship again, but at least I did not surrender my faith”.

From what Capt. Roy Hidalgo mentioned, he intends to put up a case against SEAGEM, the manning agency in the Philippines that kept on supplying Filipino seamen, in spite of knowing the tragic incidents involving their recruits, or is SEAGEM having a major role on the conspiracy? FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, WE FILIPINOS CAN PUSH OUR COUNTRYMEN TO TRAGEDY.

Whilst we land-based professional OFWs here in Nigeria do offer our prayers for the early release of our countrymen caught for doing the dirty job, something must be done from the root cause of the problem.

MUST WE CONTINUE ALLOWING FILIPINO SEAMEN TO ENTER THE NIGER DELTA IN NIGERIA IN SPITE OF THE MANY INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE SAME MANNING AGENCY?

It is hurting the reputation of our country, and being labeled now as a nation of thieves! This tag IS REVERBERATING LOUDLY IN OUR EARS AND POUNDING LOUDLY IN OUR HEARTS.

SOMETHING MUST BE DONE NOW BY OUR GOVERNMENT, AND NOT WHEN THE PROBLEM IS TOO SERIOUS TO HANDLE! The Philippine Media should be advised and make a noise and our POEA officials have to think twice in stopping the likes of SEAGEM.

Merry Christmas to all,
Mr. Lito Nucum

President
PUSONG PINOY ASSOCIATION
FCT Abuja , Nigeria