By Leonardo Micua
Filipino mercenary captured in Ukraine, from Pangasinan
A Filipino national from Alcala, Pangasinan, named Raymon Santos Gumangan, has been identified as a prisoner of war in Ukraine after allegedly fighting for Russia.
Reports indicate that a video featuring Gumangan was uploaded on December 8 to the “I Want to Live” Facebook page, an initiative by the Ukrainian government. He was purportedly recruited by Russian forces for a lucrative position but discovered upon arrival that he had been reassigned from a logistics role to a combat position.
In 2024, Gumangan signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense, where he served as a shooter in the 51st Parachute Regiment. His family was informed of his capture by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). His brother, Ronie, noted that Raymon appeared unrecognizable due to significant weight loss.
Previously, Gumangan worked for a security agency in the Philippines and had sought employment online as logistics personnel. His son, Raymark, mentioned that a foreigner assisted his father in obtaining the job in Russia, where initially, Gumangan was able to communicate updates regarding his situation.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has confirmed that Gumangan is not listed in their records or those of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The DMW is collaborating with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ascertain the details of Gumangan’s departure from the Philippines and facilitate his repatriation.
Additionally, last week, Ukraine’s military intelligence reported the death of another Filipino mercenary in a confrontation between Russian and Ukrainian forces.