Free at last!

Somali pirates release Greek ship
BBC News, Sept. 14, 2009

Somali pirates have released a Greek-owned ship hijacked five months ago and freed its 21 Filipino crew members, officials and pirates have said.

"The MV Irene is free. All 21 crew are safe and sound," maritime official Andrew Mwangura told AFP news agency.

Reuters news agency cited a pirate as saying the hijackers acted after receiving a ransom of $2m (£1.2m). (Click BBC News for the rest.)

Thank you all, for signing the online petition to free Bob Casas and the MV Irene crew, and for your prayers. According to my friend Gemma Casas, Bob's sister, the Pinoy crew are all in Mogadishu receiving medical care and will be flown back to the Philippines either tomorrow or Thursday.

(UPDATE 12:53 pm) As per Gemma, her brother called his wife at around 1 am today and said the entire crew is now in Amman, Jordan. I know Gemma is also very thankful to David Cohen, former deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Interior, for putting up the online petition. Great job David!

Pls. sign this petition!

BOB Casas is the brother of my friend and media colleague Gemma Casas. He is one of the 23 Filipino crewmen of the bulk carrier ship MV Irene who continue to be hostages of the Somali pirates who seized their ship off the Gulf of Aden on April 14, 2009.

May I request you dear readers to kindly sign this petition urging the officials of the Philippine government, foreign governments, as well of international organizations to do everything in their power to free these hostages.

If you have a blog or web site, pls. publish a link to the online petition as well so we can gather more signatures, faster.

Thank you.