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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Erwin Tulfo: More than 24 Pinoy seafarers at risk amid ongoing Russo-Ukraine war

Erwin Tulfo: More than 24 Pinoy seafarers at risk amid ongoing Russo-Ukraine war

Published Feb 15, 2026 11:38 am  |  Updated Feb 15, 2026 01:37 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Erwin Tulfo on Sunday, February 15 expressed concern over the plight of the more than 24 Filipino seafarers amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.


Senator Erwin Tulfo on Sunday, February 15 expressed concern over the plight of the more than 24 Filipino seafarers amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Senator Erwin Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Erwin Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations chairperson said he is set to meet with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) this week to address the safety of these seafarers as they are currently stationed on Russian vessels.  

Ukrainian Ambassador Yuliia Fediv earlier briefed the lawmaker about the number of Filipino seamen during a courtesy call with the senator last week.

Tulfo highlighted the urgency of the meeting following reports that these seafarers could be at risk of being caught in the crossfire of the Russia-Ukraine war.

“We want to determine the specific steps the DFA and DMW are taking to ensure the safety and security of these seafarers,” Tulfo stated.

Tulfo, likewise, emphasized the need to verify the employment status of the affected Filipinos.

“I want the DMW to find out if these seamen were direct hires or if they were deployed through local manning agencies,” the lawmaker said.

“If they were deployed through a manning agency, that company holds responsibility for their welfare should anything happen to them. However, if they were direct hires, we can appeal for them to return home immediately, as their lives are in grave danger,” he said.

During the same diplomatic visit, Tulfo also urged Ambassador Fediv to allow Raymon Santos Gumangan, a Filipino prisoner of war (POW) in Ukraine, to communicate with his family in the Philippines. Ukrainian forces captured Gumangan who was serving under the Russian military.

This is despite accounts from his family that he had originally secured employment as a logistics truck driver through an online job portal, only to find himself entangled in the conflict upon arrival.

 Ambassador Fediv committed to facilitating a way for Gumangan to reach his family.

The Ukrainian envoy also assured the senator that Gumangan is being treated humanely in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

Related Tags

Erwin Tulfo RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
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