MANILA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government is closely coordinating with Nigeria to ensure the safe release of seven Filipinos abducted last Saturday by armed men off the coast of the African country, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday.
The DFA said in a statement that it is "taking the necessary steps" to make sure the kidnapped Philippine workers who were among a dozen crew members of a Swiss-owned vessel named "MV Glarus" are safe.
The Philippine Embassies in Abuja, Nigeria and in Bern, Switzerland are making the necessary coordination with concerned authorities to get additional information on the condition and whereabouts of the seven Philippine crew members of the MV Glarus, the statement said.
The Philippine Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria said the seven victims were among 12 of 19 crew members who were reported to have been taken by gunmen as the vessel was making its way from Lagos to Port Harcourt.
Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria Shirley Vicario said the seven are among 12 Philippine crewmen on board the vessel.
Vicario said five other Filipinos and two foreign nationals were also left on board but it was not immediately clear why they were not taken.
Already, Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has directed the DFA's Office of Migrant Workers Affairs to notify and extend the necessary assistance to the families in the Philippines of the seven seafarers.
The DFA did not identify the kidnapped victims.
