10 Crew Members of Brahma 12 Vessel Separated in Two Houses

TEMPO.CO, Klaten-The ten crew members of TB Brahma 12 vessel held hostages by Abu Sayyaf group in Philippines were separated into two groups. The first group consisted of three people; the captain, the chief of engine room, and a technician. The second group consisted of seven crew members including the helmsman, Bayu Oktavianto, 22.

“The two groups were placed at different houses but still in one same location,” said Sutomo, 49, on Friday, April 1, 2016. Sutomo is the father of Bayu Oktavianto.

Two Indonesian ships, TB Brahma 12 and Anand 12, were hijacked on the Tawi-tawi waters in Philippines during their sail from Banjarmasin to Batangas, southern Philippines. The Brahma 12 was released while the Anand 12 that brought coal and ten crew members were being held hostage.

Sutomo told in a brief phone conversation that the company did not explain the reason of the hostage separation did by the Abu Sayyaf group. “The company (PT Patria) that contacted me only said that they [the hostages] were separated and were in good health,” he said.

To prove that the hostages were fine, he said that the Abu Sayyaf group had had allowed a crew member of Brahma 12 ship from Makassar to call his family for only five minutes. Sutomo said he had received the story from the company.

PT Patria, according to Sutomo, had tried to track the phone number yet the result was none. “It’s a one way communication. Only the pirate group can call the company. So, the company can only wait,” he said.

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