OFW back home from Nigerian ordeal

A Filipino construction worker, who was among those taken hostage by a group of militant youths during an attack on an oil terminal in Nigeria, came home last Friday night, relieved and grateful they were released unharmed.

Anthony Santos, a Pampanga native who worked in Nigeria for the Willbros Group American Oil Service Co., was welcomed by his wife Helen, and two sons Mark Angel, 10, and Mark Ian, 14, as well as other relatives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal I, minutes after he disembarked from an Emirates flight that landed at 8:40 p.m.

A tearful Santos hugged his wife and then his sons at the NAIA Terminal I arrival area. Accompanying Santos on the Emirates flight was his father-in-law Crisostomo Crudo, who also works in Nigeria as a barge engineer.

Facing a swarm of reporters after being reunited with his family, Santos said he was very thankful to God that he was among those released.

Santos and eight other workers in the oil outfit were used as "human shields" by a band of militant youths being pursued by the Nigerian military last Feb. 18.

He and five others were released by their captors on March 1 after the successful negotiations entered into by his employers and the Nigerian government with their abductors. Three others, including two American oil workers and a British security expert, are still being held.

Santos said he was also thankful to Nigerian authorities for not returning fire at their captors. "Buti na lang hindi nila sinagot ang putok ng mga kidnappers namin kundi patay kami," he told reporters.

Santos said he and his fellow hostages were treated relatively well by their abductors and it was the fear of a possible firefight that caused their group much worry.

Asked about his future plans, Santos said he intends to take a rest for three months before going back to Nigeria to work.

"Wala kaming choice kundi bumalik. Kaysa naman mamatay kami ng pamilya ko sa gutom, I’ll take the risk," Santos said while managing to joke about how "healthy" his wife and two sons have become. "Tingnan ninyo naman ang lalaki nila."

Santos said the high pay offered by working in the oil fields of a strife-torn country like Nigeria far outweighs the difficulties in getting a decent-paying job here in the country.

"Sa totoo lang, mahirap talagang maghanap ng trabaho dito sa Pilipinas na mabubuhay nang maayos ang pamilya mo," Santos said as he recalled the hardships he had faced in getting a job before finding employment in Nigeria.

He pointed out that his father-in-law will probably return to Nigeria next week.