Pinoy engineer abducted in Yemen freed — DFA

The Filipino engineer kidnapped in Yemen last month was released by his abductors Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Saturday. In a statement, the DFA expressed appreciation to Yemeni authorities for their help in facilitating the release of Ramon de Castro. The 46-year-old Filipino is now with his employer Aggreko-Yemen, and his departure from Yemen is being arranged, the DFA said. “[We] are making arrangements for his wife and brother-in-law to proceed to and meet him in Dubai," the department also said. De Castro, together with his Sri Lankan colleague, was abducted by a local tribe group on April 18, while on their way to Sana’a – Yemen’s capital – for a vacation. De Castro was based in the province of Ma’arib, where this employer’s power plant is located. Ma’arib is 200 km east of Sana’a. Aggreko-Yemen, an international power generator rental company, learned about De Castro’s abduction two hours after the incident. The abductors demanded from Yemen some government services such as jobs, schools, and electricity supply, the DFA said. During his visit to Yemen last April 30, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario sought the assistance of the Yemeni government for De Castro’s release. At the time, Al-Sadi Group of Companies, the local agent of Aggreko-Yemen, assured Del Rosario that it is doing everything for the Filipino’s release. Also, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Qirbi told Del Rosario that Yemeni’s security forces will spare no effort to facilitate the Filipino’s release and ensure his safety. The DFA said the Yemeni government, some tribal leaders in Ma’arib, and other provincial leaders helped convince the local tribe to release De Castro. — Jesse Edep/LBG, GMA News