The Philippines says a Filipino seafarer has been found dead on a ship that was attacked by pirates at anchor in the West African nation of Benin.
The Philippine foreign affairs department says it's not clear how Christopher Cortez Ceprado died or if the pirates were responsible.
It says he was found dead last Wednesday, four days after pirates robbed the chemical tanker MT Sea King and its 17 Filipino crewmen in the port of Benin's main city, Cotonou. The other crewmen were not harmed.
The department said Tuesday the Philippine Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, is coordinating with Benin authorities in investigating the death.
Filipino sailors make up a third of the world's 1.2 million merchant seafarers.
