MANILA, Philippines – Shortly before Christmas in December 2008, a 15-year-old girl, a leukemia victim, wrote a letter in which she appealed to the Somali pirates to release her father whom they have been holding captive along with 18 other Filipino sailors as their Christmas present to her.
The letter of Michelle Arroyo, which was first posted in the Internet, received international attention following its publication in The Philippine Daily Inquirer, the country’s largest circulation daily, and follow-ups from wire services as well as non-government organizations that have taken up her cause.
Somali pirates took as hostage Michelle’s father, Roger Arroyo, when they seized the Japanese-owned tanker, “Chemstar Venus,” on November 16, 2008 and 22 other crewmen, including 18 Filipinos.
At the time the pirates attacked, Michelle was brought back to the hospital for further treatment because her leukemia had recurred.
While confined in the hospital, Michelle, the youngest of three daughters of Roger and his wife Cristy, noticed there was something wrong: Her father had not been calling her because they would talk over the phone at least once a week.
As a result, Cristy said that much against her will, she was forced to tell Michelle the grim news that her father was being held captive by Somali pirates.
This led her to write the letter to the pirates, which was posted in the Internet by the Manila-based Cancer Warriors Foundation, which has been helping the family shoulder the expenses for Michelle’s hospitalization and medication.
Michelle’s appeal for a Christmas gift via the release of her father came rather late when the Somali pirates released their captives after they were paid the ransom they had demanded from the Japanese owner.
Two weeks ago, Roger arrived with his fellow Filipino hostages after 97 days of captivity for a reunion with their families.
For his part, Roger told of the hardship and sufferings they had to endure at the hands of their captors, including threats that they would be killed if the ship owners did not pay the ransom they had demanded.
“I did not know what to do,” Roger said. “But I knew I had to survive.”
And survive, he did with his hope strengthened by the knowledge that groups, like the Kenya-based Ecoterra International, had offered to relay Michelle’s appeal, through its Somali members, to the pirates.
As the negotiations were going on for his release, Roger revealed that his profession as a chef at the seized tanker proved to be a blessing and helped save his life.
When the food supply from the ship ran out, Roger disclosed the pirates would bring goat meat on board which he would cook for them and their hostages.
It was also during that time that the pirates learned of the serious health condition of his daughter. In fact, he disclosed that his captors even urged him to remain strong for the sake of his daughter.
Roger also quoted one of the pirates as telling him that, “Allah will heal her.”
At one point, Roger also said that the leader of the pirates had already agreed to release him. But when one of the Somali volunteers of Ecoterra International boarded the tanker, the leader had already gone home and the one who was left in charge was hostile and refused to release Roger.
But this did not discourage Roger, with Michelle uppermost in his mind as he prayed for their safety and their release.
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