Senator Erwin Tulfo seeks help for Filipino prisoner of war in Ukraine

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday met with Yuliia Fediv, Ukraine’s first resident ambassador to the Philippines, to discuss concerns including the situation of Filipino prisoner of war Raymon Santos Gumangan in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, appealed to Fediv to help facilitate communication between Gumangan and his family in the Philippines.

The Ukrainian envoy responded that she would assist in enabling Gumangan to reach out to his relatives.

Fediv, however, noted that Gumangan’s release may not be carried out swiftly due to the absence of a special trade or bilateral agreement between Ukraine and the Philippines covering such cases.

In response, Tulfo committed to coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers to finalize joint agreements addressing cases involving Filipinos caught in conflict zones, including Gumangan.

The senator also expressed concern over the safety of Filipinos working aboard vessels that could potentially become military targets.

“I will ensure that the communication lines between the Philippines and Ukraine remain open so we will be updated about the safety of Filipinos in Ukraine,” Tulfo said.

Gumangan, a native of Alcala, Pangasinan, was reportedly recruited for Russian logistics work through an online job-hunting platform but later found himself deployed in a military setting.

He was captured by Ukrainian forces in September 2025.

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, the DFA has imposed an Alert Level 4 status, suspending the deployment of Filipino workers to Ukraine.

Fediv, for her part, said that a joint labor agreement between Ukraine and the Philippines is currently underway, which she said could open more employment opportunities for Filipino workers.

“It translates to more job for our workers, its like we are helping you and you are helping us,” the Ukrainian envoy said.

Since his appointment as chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Tulfo has been meeting with diplomats and coordinating with the DFA on matters concerning international relations and the welfare of Filipinos overseas.

-Paraluman News