PH in talks with Ukraine on detained Pinoy fighters allegedly recruited by Russia

The Philippine government is currently in talks with Ukraine on the status of detained Filipinos fighters allegedly recruited by Russia, a Department of Foreign Affairs official said Wednesday.

DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona said the department received five active requests for assistance from the families of Filipinos reportedly being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia since 2022.

One Filipino, Ramon Gumangan, is a confirmed prisoner of war in Ukraine, while a certain “John Patrick,” also recruited by Russia and received one week of training before being deployed to an assault mission near Novoselivka village in Kramatorsk district, was killed in action.

“The DFA is making representations with Ukraine authorities,” Escalona told reporters.

Escalona declined to provide more details on the status of the Filipinos, citing complex nature of their case.

However, she said most of the alleged Filipino mercenaries, who ended up fighting for Russian forces, were initially offered “civilian jobs” online.

“We have to check all the information that we are getting,” she said, adding that Manila is coordinating with Ukraine and Russia and even the International Committee on the Red Cross on the matter.

“The Filipinos are in the areas of conflict. They are not a party to the conflict so any repatriation or return depends on agreements between the parties to the conflict, and even the access to the prisoners,” she said.

Prisoners of wars, she explained, is governed by international law and the policies of the detaining state.

Asked if the Philippine government is considering a deployment ban to Russia, Escalona said such policy requires a decision from an inter-agency government body, which includes the anti-trafficking council.

Escalona, meanwhile, reiterated the DFA’s warning to Filipinos to be wary in accepting overseas employment offers that may involve recruitment into foreign armed forces, including under the guise of regular civilian employment in other sectors.

“Filipino jobseekers should be circumspect and careful of these offers. Participation in foreign armed conflicts exposes Filipinos to grave danger and serious legal consequences,” she said. —AOL, GMA Integrated News