Freed Filipino kidnap victim in Nairobi, in good physical condition – DFA

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez. PHOTO BY CATHY MIRANDA/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – The Filipino, who was kidnapped in Kenya in late June and released Monday, is in Nairobi and is in good physical condition, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

“As of 3:20 pm yesterday [Monday], Kenyan Time, our Filipino compatriot landed in Nairobi and he was met by our Ambassador Domingo Lucenario and he was in high spirits and in generally good physical condition, except for a bullet wound that he sustained during the abduction period,” Raul Hernandez, DFA spokesman said, in a press briefing.

Hernandez said that Glenn Costes was now resting in a hotel in Nairobi and upon his return here would want to rest some more before resuming his work with the Norwegian Refugee Council.

The DFA said that Costes and his three colleagues, who were held hostage in Somalia for three days after they were seized from the Dadaab refugee camp, were rescued Monday on the Kenya-Somali border. Costes’ companions also worked for the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Hernandez said that during the abduction, Costes raised his hand to show that he was not fighting and not resisting. The Pakistani driver they were with, however, did not raise his hand and was shot. Costes was also hit on the leg, Hernandez said.

“They were brought by the abductors, about eight of them, to the border and they had long walks especially in the nights but he was able to do a lot of walking even with his wound and finally the rescue came and then he was treated in Kenyan military camp and flown by Kenyan air force to Nairobi,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said that the report of the Philippine embassy in Nairobi did not include details about which group was behind the abduction.

Hernandez said that Kenyan authorities were trying to make sure that that the safety of more than 800 overseas Filipinos in Kenya was ensured.