PHILIPPINE HOSTAGES RELEASED

UNCLAS LAGOS 000905 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED DOE FOR GPERSON AND CGAYE USDOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PETER CASC NI SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE HOSTAGES RELEASED REF: LAGOS 880 ¶1. (SBU) On June 25, Philippine Vice-Consul Arquiza informed us about the release of the two Philippine oil workers (reftel) who were kidnapped on June 20. The Philippine hostages were released into the custody of Vice- Consul Arquiza at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. After several days with no communication from the kidnappers or hostages, Arquiza told us the Rivers State Government informed Philippine officials they had custody of the hostages. Arquiza indicated the hostages had been roughed up, but were in reasonably good condition. The Philippine Embassy is arranging their expeditious return to the Philippines. Arquiza thanked the U.S. Mission for its assistance in facilitating contact between the Philippine Embassy and Rivers State officials. ¶2. (SBU) This kidnapping appears to have been motivated by local community issues in Rivers State. The River State government took the lead in resolving the hostage case. We have not confirmed the conditions for the hostages' release. One source from the security industry reported the Filipinos were kidnapped because their boat had capsized a local fishing vessel and caused a fisherman to drown. Also, local press reported one possible explanation for the hostage-taking is local community complaints that Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) failed to provide social amenities for them in accordance their Memorandum of Understanding. BROWNE#