THE fate of Raymon Santos Gumangan, a Filipino detained as a prisoner of war (POW) in Ukraine, took center stage on Wednesday as Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Erwin Tulfo met with Ukraine’s first resident ambassador to the Philippines, Yuliia Fediv. Gumangan, a native of Alcala, Pangasinan, was reportedly recruited in 2025 for what was advertised as a logistics job in Russia through an online job-hunting platform. According to earlier reports, he later found himself enlisted in military operations and was captured by Ukrainian forces in September 2025 amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, now entering its fourth year. During the meeting, Tulfo appealed to Fediv to allow Gumangan to communicate with his family in the Philippines, who have been seeking updates on his condition. Fediv assured the senator that she would facilitate communication between Gumangan and his relatives, signaling a possible first step toward easing the family’s concerns. However, the Ukrainian envoy cautioned that securing Gumangan’s release may not be immediate, citing the absence of a special bilateral agreement between Ukraine and the Philippines that would cover cases involving detained foreign nationals in conflict situations. In response, Tulfo committed to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers to explore formal mechanisms and possibly draft joint agreements that could address Gumangan’s case and similar situations involving Filipinos caught in conflict zones. “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. Tulfo also raised concerns about the safety of Filipino seafarers working aboard commercial vessels that could potentially become military targets amid heightened tensions in the region. The Philippines is one of the world’s largest suppliers of seafarers, making their protection a continuing priority for the government. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, the DFA has maintained Alert Level 4 over Ukraine, which mandates the mandatory evacuation of Filipinos and suspends the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to the country. Fediv said a joint labor agreement between Ukraine and the Philippines is currently in the works, aimed at strengthening employment cooperation once conditions stabilize. “It translates to more jobs for our workers. It’s like we are helping you and you are helping us,” Fediv said. Tulfo, who has intensified diplomatic engagements since assuming chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he will continue coordinating with foreign diplomats and Philippine agencies to safeguard the welfare of Filipinos abroad, particularly those in high-risk areas.