DFA Denies Abducted OFWs Killed in Libya
MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday denied reports that the three Filipinos abducted in Libya were killed.
“Di confirmed yan,” DFA Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said.
Reuters reported on Thursday that two Filipino workers were among the 12 people killed when gunmen attacked an oilfield in a remote area in Libya.
“Di natin pwedeng mag rely sa report na yan. Kung na-aalala nung nagkaroon din ng attack sa Corinthian Hotel sa Tripoli the other week, napabalitang may dalawang Pilipino namatay kaugnay sa attack na yan and it turned out di pala totoo. Mas mabuting matiyak muna natin, vine-verify ng ating embassy ang ulat na ito,” he said.
Jose said the three Filipinos working in the oilfield were among the seven people abducted by more than 30 gunmen last Tuesday.
“Ayon sa employer, wala pa silang natatanggap na ransom demands galing sa grupo kaya hanggang ngayon di malinaw kung ano ang motibo sa pagdukot sa mga foreign nationals,” Jose said.
The DFA, he said, already informed their families.
“In touch nga ang DFA sa mga kaanak ng tatlong Pilipinong dinukot. Very much worried sila at ina-assure naman sila na ginagawa lahat ng ating pamahalaan, ng embassy sa Tripoli at sa katunayan they are in close coordination with the employer para masigurado ang kanilang kapakanan at kanilang safe release sa kanilang eventually pagbabalik dito sa Pilipinas,” he said.
He added that the three Pinoys are documented OFWs since they are working for a huge oil company.
Alert level 4 remains enforced in Libya since July last year prompting the government to impose a mandatory repatriation and a total employment ban.
Since then, over 4,000 OFWs were already repatriated but about 4,000 others are still in Libya.
Jose appealed to the families of OFWs in Libya to encourage them to come home.
“Encourage ninyo sila na i-avail ang repatriation program na inaalok ng ating pamahalaan para sa kanilang sariling kaligtasan. Dapat nilang gawin, makipag-ugnayan sa ating embassy. Once na mag register sila tutulungan sila na makagawa ng paraan para makalabas ng Libya at makabalik sa Pilipinas,” he said.