By ANTHONY IAN CRUZ
Malaya
January 5, 2008

THE Department of Foreign Affairs has identified the lone casualty among 19 Filipino seamen caught in the crossfire of violence in Nigeria as Vito S. Cruz, an electrician.

DFA spokesperson Claro Cristobal said electrician Cruz died Dec. 19 after the tanker MT Keno where he and 18 other Filipino seamen worked caught fire due to an attack by militants at the Port Harcourt, River State, Nigeria.

The remains of Cruz will be repatriated next week “after the completion of documentary requirements,” said Cristobal.

Esteban Conejos Jr., DFA under-secretary for migrant workers’ welfare, initially held back Cruz’s identity pending notification of his family.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Marianito Roque said through a text message that Cruz’s beneficiaries will receive P200,000 in accident insurance and P20,000 in burial assistance.

Cristobal said the 18 other Filipino seamen who survived the attacks will be repatriated in two batches over the weekend, with six arriving Saturday night on board Emirates Airlines flight EK 334, and the rest on Sunday morning on board flight KLM Airlines flight KL 803.

DFA identified the 18 seamen as Simeon Avilla, Edgar Ballesteros, Nestor Barba, Cesar Guadalupe, Alvin Jovellano, Pancho Lagutan, Nino Luengas, Melchor Malana, Ronald Padasas, James Panaguiton, Richard Peniano, Jozane Ponce, William Prosia, Tomas Obial, Manual Tabang, Elmer Temblor, Frankie Viacrucis and Alfonso Zarate.

Cristobal said the 18 seafarers actually survived two attacks. After their evacuation to the President Hotel, also in Nigeria, militants attacked a nearby police station on New Year’s Eve, trapping them inside the hotel.

The DFA said the rescued sailors were transferred to Lagos on Wednesday, and then to Abuja, where the Philippine embassy is located, in preparation for their return to Manila.