Filipino released from captivity in Yemen

MANILA, Philippines—A Filipino engineer abducted by a local tribe in Yemen has been freed after almost a month in captivity, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday.

Ramon de Castro, 46, an employee of Aggreko-Yemen’s Ma’arib plant, whose kidnapping was kept under wraps by Philippine authorities in order not to compromise negotiations, was freed by his captors on Friday, the DFA said.

“He was not hurt. We were assured he is in good health,” said Foreign Undersecretary Rafael E. Seguis, adding that De Castro, a native of Ibaan, Batangas, was to be flown to Dubai for a medical checkup. The schedule of his return to the Philippines is not yet known.

De Castro, along with two Yemenis, was on his way to Sanaa for a vacation when they were kidnapped on April 18. The two Yemenis were immediately released, Seguis said.

At a briefing, he said the DFA was not aware of the ransom demanded by the kidnappers, but that it learned that some of the demands included “government services, jobs, electricity,” and others that only the Yemeni government could satisfy.

Seguis said the Philippine embassy in Sanaa learned of the abduction only a week after it happened, and immediately established contact with Aggreko-Yemen, De Castro’s employer, which negotiated with the tribe for his release.

He said President Benigno Aquino, upon being told of the kidnapping, instructed Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario to intercede and press the Yemeni government for De Castro’s release.

Del Rosario flew to Sanaa and met with Yemen’s caretaker Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi about the kidnapped Filipino, and was told that the Filipino citizen “is in good health and the security forces will spare no effort to release him and ensure his safety,” according to a report by the official Saba News Agency.

Seguis said the number of Filipinos in Yemen ranged between 1,500 and 3,000, including undocumented ones.

In March, the DFA raised a Level-2 alert over Yemen, indicating it was recommending restricted movements among Filipinos there, in light of increasing tensions and clashes between government forces and oppositionists in tat Middle Eastern country.

Seguis said this remains in effect.

In an advisory, the Philippine embassy in Sanaa asked Filipinos to actively monitor developments; keep communication lines open with the embassy and community coordinators; and inform the embassy or Filipino coordinators of their whereabouts.

They were also advised to keep an emergency bag containing clothing, water, canned goods and medicine good for two weeks; and have important documents such as passports and money ready.