CHIZ URGES GOV'T TO LEAD DRIVE TO PERSUADE UN TO ACT
AGAINST SOMALI PIRATES

Senator Chiz Escudero on Wednesday urged the Arroyo administration to take the lead in urging the United Nations to form a multinational force against Somali pirates who have attacked several international shipping and held several hundreds hostage including Filipino seamen.

Escudero said the Philippine government, through our representative to the UN, should make a strong representation in the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council to defend and protect the sealanes off the Somali coast.

"It is high time that the government take a positive and definite action to keep our people out of harm's way. After all, this is just a token compared to how these seamen's remittances have long kept our economy afloat," he said.

He supported the call of a leading seafarer's group for the Philippines to be at the forefront in pushing for the creation of an UN-led expeditionary force to guard the sea lanes in the Gulf of Aden.

Somali pirates have vowed to step up attacks on international shipping after US Navy commandos killed three pirates during the successful rescue of a hostaged American captain of a cargo ship last week.

As of last count, the pirates continue to hold 98 Filipino seamen who were members of the crew of six ships hijacked since January in the Gulf of Aden.

The Philippines is the world's largest supplier of sailors, with some 350,000 manning all types of ships, according to available data.

"We owe it to these seamen and their families to do something to ensure their safety in the high seas and not act only when something bad happens to them," he said.