By MYRA LOPEZ

Now reunited with their families, Longkines and Enero are only too happy not to brood over their Iranian experience. Both are willing to leave the past behind and move on with a new assignment.

FINALLY, the two-year saga of sorrow and anxiety ended for the two Filipino seafarers and their five companions who were held in Iran for the disappearance of a foreign co-worker.

It may not be as happy an ending as a fairy tale, but at least, it gave a big sigh of  relief to the families of the two Filipino seafarers -- C/E Rodolfo Longkines and 3rd Engr. Antonio Enero.

The two finally returned to Manila on board a Philippine Airline plane last February 8. The two and their five companions were serving a contract with Sem-bawang Marine and Logistics, Ltd. in Iran when they were arrested as suspects in the disappearance of a shipmate.

The seven were released after Philippine foreign affairs officials and United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) president Nelson Ramirez worked hard – lobbying and networking – for their immediate repatriation. Their distraught wives, who were based in Cebu, were worried about their husband’s safety and health, thus they sought Engr. Ramirez’ help.

Soon thereafter, the UFS president coordinated with the Department of  Foreign  Affairs and other government instrumentalities to expedite the case and bring back the two seafarers and their five companions home.

Ramirez not only helped with the paper chase but mustered public sympathy for the seven imprisoned seafarers by publishing a full-blown feature in the Tinig ng Marino. Also, he called on his worldwide connection to lobby for the fast disposition of the case against the Filipino seafarers who were languishing in an Iranian jail and were constantly under harassment.

Ramirez’ effort paid off after the Iranian judge ruled that there is insufficient evidence to support the filing of a formal proceedings against the suspected Filipino seamen. The decision, which virtually gave the suspects a clean bill of health, paved the way for their return to the Philippines.

Upon their arrival, Tinig had a chance to interview Longkines and Enero, but before they could relate their tale of agony and suffering, they expressed profuse gratitude to DFA and Ramirez for their efforts in expediting resolution of their case and facilitating their trip back home.

Their wives are equally elated. Aside from their worry over how the case was slowly moving, their husbands were being harassed physically by their Filipino companions loyal to Capt. Zapatero. It was this fear for the obvious mismatch between their husbands and the five men that prompted them to scurry for help from UFS and the DFA. And their pleas for help were not in vain.

Enero, a devout Christian, said: “Laging nagdarasal kami sa Panginoon para maka-uwi na kami.”

The unhappy story of the seven seafarers began on  September 28, 1998. While M/V Cheetah was docked at R1 Platform Raksh Oilfield in Iran at the wee hour of the morning, the crew discovered that their shipmate had mysteriously disappeared.

Capt. Guillermo Zapatero, in his written testimony, said that the missing person is mentally and emotionally unstable – a defense which Longkines and Enero find hard to accept.  Short of pronouncing the guilty verdict against the Captain, the unbelieving seamen said the Captain should be held responsible for the incident because of command responsibility.

In addition to this, the two contested  that Capt. Zapatero has an ax to grind against the shipmate because the latter failed to recommend him to management.

Longkines said they had to suffer much for a crime they did not commit. As prime suspects for the shipmate’s disappearance, they had to endure 45 days in prison and be treated like common criminals. He said: “We were imprisoned in Lengeh jail from December  13, 1998, to January 27, 1999. Mahirap, lalung-lalo na sa pagkain.”

Longkines said the experience was very difficult because the food was Iranian. Rice was only served during lunch which is usually at 2:00 p.m. For breakfast and dinner, they were only given bread and water.

Water, being a precious commodity, prompted them to learn how to take a bath using salt water. Fresh water is rationed for the cooking of rice. Many of their movements are restricted, particularly the use of the toilet which had to be approved first and under close surveillance.

But for all its inconveniences, Longkines and Enero have kind words for their Iranian jailkeepers. “Inalagaan kami ng husto,” both men said. They said, despite their racial differences, they were not maltreated and discriminated upon. “Pareho ang pagkain,” they added.

Likewise, they cited the responsiveness of their jailkeepers to the petition made by their lawyers. The two narrated how their conditions inside the prison improved after their lawyers made a petition. They said that they were given more time outside their cells and were allowed to roam around the jail compound most of the day. “Ikinukulong kami sa selda at kinakandaduhan kung gabi,” Longkines and Enero said.

On January 27, 1999, all seven men stepped out of the penal center and lived almost like free men — except for Longkines and Enero who had to endure another form of punishment from their own peers.

Longkines narrated: “After January 27, we stayed in Hotel Saaed. We were distributed in three rooms, two in each of the two rooms while the remaining three shared the third room. As promised by Sembawang, the company paid for their board and lodgings until the case was settled. Kumpanya ang nagbayad, libre kain, pero wala kaming suweldo.” The company also looked after their families during the crisis period by continuing to regularly send them their  seafarer’s allotment, equivalent to 80 percent of basic salary.

On October 2,1999, Longkines said, something happened that spurred his wife, Wilfreda, to seek assistance. He narrated: “That day was the captain’s birthday. I greeted him while I was in the kitchen. His friends followed me when I went outside the room and AB Abarra hit me.”

The group did not dare touch him again after he complained to the police, who in turn, gave the offenders “a lesson or two.”

Enero also became a subject of similar abuse in December 20, 1999. He said he was trying to win AB Abarra to their side when the latter hit him. Two days after, the Philippine consul in Iran personally checked on them and hot heads cooled off.

Now reunited with their families, Longkines and Enero are only too happy not to brood over their Iranian experience. Both are willing to leave the past behind and move on with a new assignment. “At hindi na rin kami interesadong mag-file ng kaso laban sa mga nang-abuso sa amin na kapwa nating Pinoy,” Longkines and Enero said.

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