Algeria hostage victims’ kin still hope for survivors

APALIT, Pampanga, Philippines – Relatives of Filipino workers initially reported killed in the bloody siege ending a four-day hostage crisis in an Algerian gas field are not losing hope that their loved ones are among the still unnamed survivors.

This after survivor Joseph Balmaceda visited yesterday the wife of engineer Iluminado Santiago, who was among the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the In Amenas gas facility that was attacked by Islamic militants.  

The Department of Foreign Affairs had earlier confirmed that six Filipinos were killed while four remained missing in the aftermath of the Algeria siege.

Balmaceda told Santiago’s wife Estrella that her husband may still be alive.

He said he was holding the hands of Santiago as they hid in a vehicle after Islamic militants used foreign hostages as human shields to stop Algerian forces aboard helicopters from strafing them.

Balmaceda said that after the shooting died down, he told Santiago they could already go but the latter seemed unconscious.

“But gunshots rang out again so I left him and ran and even rolled until I reached the area of rescuers before I fainted,” he said.

“Before I ran away, I saw Gov (referring to Santiago) was unconscious but he had no wound nor blood. He might have passed out or suffered a heart attack,” he added.

Balmaceda and another survivor, Ruben Andrada, returned home the other day.

Santiago’s wife said she was relieved by Balmaceda’s story.  – Ding Cervantes, Ric Sapnu, Jose Rodel Clapano, Mayen Jaymalin