Puntland,(insidesomalia.org)-A Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official confirmed yesterday the death of a Filipino sailor aboard one of the hijacked vessels off the pirate-infested coast of Somalia.

DFA Undersecretary for migrant workers affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. identified the fatality as able seaman Jayson Dumagat. He said the body remains aboard the hijacked Malaysian tanker MT Bunga Melati Dua.

Conejos said last week that 10 out of the ship’s 39 crew members were Filipino. Carrying over 32,000 tons of palm oil, it was hijacked last August 19 in the Gulf of Aden.

Wire news agencies on Tuesday ran reports saying that a Filipino crew man "died in an accident" when Somali pirates seized the tanker.

"We have been able to establish more communication with the crew of Bunga Melati Dua and are now able to confirm that the fatality on board involving a Filipino crew member was an accident during the time of boarding of the vessel by the hijackers," Agence France Presse (AFP) quoted a statement made by ship owner MISC Berhad.

Sought for comment that day, Crescente Relacion, executive director of the Undersecretary’s office, said the Philippine Embassy in Nigeria as yet could not confirm news of the death.