Aquino elated over release of OFW kidnapped in Yemen

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III received Tuesday in Malacanang a Filipino engineer abducted in Yemen and was later released through the efforts of the Philippines' foreign affairs department.

Ramon de Castro, 46, who hailed from Ibaan, Batangas, personally thanked the President for his successful rescue.

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On April 18, de Castro, together with a fellow Sri Lankan co-worker, was kidnapped by a local tribe group while on the way to Sanaa, the capital, from Ma'arib province, the location of the power plant where they work.

De Castro was released on May 6 and placed under the custody of his employers, Aggreko-Yemen, an international power generation company.

His Sri Lankan colleague was also released due the Philippine’s efforts.

He recalled his hardships while being held for 19 days, eating only bread and consuming very little amounts of water.

He said he was supposed to be beheaded by the rebels but they spared him after the Philippine government sent representatives and his company cut off power supply in the area.

Aquino, who denied that a ransom was paid in exchange for de Castro's release, praised the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Embassy team in Yemen led by Ambassador Ezzedin Tago.

DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario was in attendance during the press briefing.

Sending representatives has helped a lot in his rescue, de Castro said.

Despite his bad experience abroad, De Castro said that he is again set to fly to his head office in Dubai hoping to find another job.

“Gustung-guto ko kasi ang trabaho namin kasi power generation siya, talagang may challenge. Gusto kong maraming matutunan dahil linya ko talaga iyong sa electrical,” he said.

Aquino meanwhile interjected that he will not allow De Castro to leave the country if he will again work in Yemen.

“Kung sa Yemen tututol na kami,” the Chief Executive said. “Even in this particular case, talagang naging innovative yung method in securing his release and we’re really glad that Mr. de Castro was able to reunite with his family. He's been with his family for about a month already."

President Aquino also announced the DFA’s efforts in relocating remaining Filipinos in Yemen.

Alert Level 4 was already imposed in Yemen and about 200 Filipinos have been evacuated safely, he said.

There are estimated 1,600 Filipinos still in the crisis-ridden country.

Asked by reporters how to prevent similar kidnapping incidents, the President said the long-term solution is to provide more local jobs so that Filipinos do not go abroad and take risks.

In the meantime however, he said the DFA and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will work hard to protect the welfare of Filipinos working overseas.

The DFA for instance provides regular information for different countries, particularly hot spot areas like Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Japan and South Korea. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)