Bringing home Filipino prisoners of war in Ukraine a complicated process — DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that bringing back home the five reported Filipino prisoners of war in Ukraine wouldn’t be easy, according to JP Soriano’s report in “24 Oras” on Thursday.

The DFA said the situation of the five Filipinos, who also served as mercenaries for Russia, is complicated, noting that the Philippine government couldn’t even reach out to them.

“Even yung access po sa ating prisoners of war that is governed by international law at saka yung policies of the detaining state,” said DFA spokesperson Ambassador Angelica Caraos Escalona.

(Even the access to our prisoners of war is governed by international law as well as the policies of the detaining state.)

The Philippine government has coordinated with Ukraine and Russia through their respective embassies in Manila.

“They took note of our request for assistance. But again, this is a complicated process,” said Escalona.

Under the Geneva Conventions, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) serves as the “neutral intermediary” for the release or repatriation of a prisoner of war.

“Nakikpag ugnayan po kami sa mga owtoridad on both sides, even the Red Cross, but this is a complicated process. The Filipinos are in the areas of conflict hindi po partido ang Pilipinas sa conflict na ito, so any repatriation or return depends on agreements between the parties to the conflict,” Escalona explained.

(We are coordinating with authorities on both sides, and even with the Red Cross, but this is a complicated process. The Filipinos are in conflict areas and the Philippines is not a party to this conflict, so any repatriation or return depends on agreements between the parties involved in the conflict.)

GMA Integrated News sought for an interview with the Ukrainian Embassy, but it refused to speak on the matter for now.

Meanwhile, the DFA warned that recruitment for mercenaries is usually done via social media.

“Karamihan yung online job offers at tsaka informal networks. Kaya lagi natin pinaaalalahan mga kababayan natin na mag-ingat sa mga overseas employment offers, especially sa social media maging mapanuri at araling mabuti,” said Escalona.

(Most of these are online job offers and informal networks. That is why we always remind our fellow citizens to be careful with overseas employment offers, especially on social media. Be discerning and study the offers carefully.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News