MANILA, Feb. 20 -- One of the 18 Filipinos aboard the oil tanker ST Nikolas that was seized by Iranian authorities in January has been released, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed Tuesday.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said the seafarer was freed Feb. 4.

His fellow crew members are still on the ship.

"The others are there out of their free will as they are being paid double their salary," he said in a text message. "What is needed is for the agency to replace them with other seafarers."

From the recent talks between Iran and the Philippines, De Vega said there is no indication about the ship's release "as this is with Iranian courts."

The freed Filipino national follows the release of a Greek cadet who was ab...