MANILA, Philippines -- The French Navy officials who helped in the rescue of 31 hostages, including six Filipino workers off the Somali coast last April, have vowed to further strengthen the strategic bilateral partnership with the Philippines.

The 157-man flagship French Navy ship (FNS) Var that carried Navy officials, including Vice Admiral Gerard Valin, commander of the French forces in the Indian Ocean, docked in Manila last June 8 for a goodwill visit "to promote friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and France." It left the country on Saturday for Hong Kong.

Valin's joint staff of crewmembers were among those involved in effecting the safe release of the 31 crewmembers of the French-registered cruise ship Le Ponant, who were abducted last April 4.

"Our concern then was the safety of the hostages," Valin said during an interview with reporters. "We didn't want to take any risk for their lives, we didn't want any collateral damage."

However, Valin lamented that the hostage-takers went unpunished. "The second step would be capturing the pirates," he said, adding that they have been working on new anti-piracy measures aimed at toughening the battle against seas banditry.

Piracy has apparently become lucrative off Somalia, where most kidnappers take seamen captives in anticipation of a hefty ransom.

But apart from piracy, the French Navy has also been helping the fight against drug and human trafficking, terrorism, illegal immigration, as well as environmental problems, Valin said.

Valin and other French Navy officials met with top officials of Department of National Defense (DND), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine Navy.

"The Philippines and France are very good friends, it has always been a pleasure to come here," said Valin, who added that French Navy ships have been visiting the country at least thrice a year.

"We continually work together on maintaining dialogue and improving defense diplomacy and security; we exchange views, share experiences and common interests," he added.

Another French Navy officer, Commander Axel Moracchini, was all praises for the Philippine Navy, which he said "have a very good level of training."

The FNS VAR was accompanied by the FNS Dupuy de Lome. With a length of 158m, width of 22m and draft of 9m, the FNS VAR has a maximum displacement of 17,900 tons and is outfitted with high- standard equipment such as helicopters designed for operations at sea.

It also serves as a replenishment tanker and can simultaneously supply three other ships of heavy loads of food, equipment, and ammunition, according to Valin.