DFA to Pinoys in Libya: Leave now

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs issued yesterday a “last call” for Filipinos to leave Libya as the militaries of several countries launched air raids against Libyan targets over the weekend.

The officers and staff of the Philippine embassy in Libya were directed to personally go to the workplace of Filipinos still in Tripoli and Benghazi, in a last ditch effort to convince them to leave the country.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Administration Rafael Seguis, who was in Yemen with acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario before proceeding to Tunisia, said in a television interview that the embassy officers and staff were instructed to go to the hospitals, where most Filipino nurses are working, to urge them to go home.

According to Seguis, there are around 2,000 Filipinos still in Tripoli while more than 383 are based in Benghazi.

He stressed this is the Philippine government’s “last call” for Filipino workers to leave Libya.

“This is our last call because we are expecting an intensified battle between Libyan troops and allied forces,” Seguis said.

The DFA said the Philippine government had evacuated more than 15,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Libya.

At least 13,990 Filipinos had exited and been repatriated to the Philippines.

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 authorizes UN member states to take “all necessary measures” to protect civilians as the militaries of several countries have also started air raids against Libyan targets.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his call on the Libyan government to stop all hostilities against its own civilians and comply fully with last week’s Security Council resolution, saying any fresh declaration of a ceasefire by the country’s authorities must be tested.

Libyan authorities in the capital Tripoli reportedly declared a ceasefire tonight in their battle with opposition forces who have led a popular uprising against the long-standing regime of Moammar Gadhafi.

Meantime, the United Kingdom urged yesterday the Philippines to offer its strong support to the UN Security Council Resolution 1973.

British Ambassador Stephen Lillie briefed yesterday Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda Basilio on the UK’s action to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1973.

Lillie said in a chance interview at the DFA that “the purpose of the resolution is to bring an end to the brutality perpetrated against the Libyan people by the Gadhafi regime.”

“We want the Libyan people to be able to shape their future in accordance with the values of freedom and democracy. These are values dear to both the British and Filipino people,” Lillie told reporters.

He stressed that the UK is playing an active role in the international coalition to implement the resolution.

Meantime, US Ambassador Harry Thomas had said that they are still awaiting the Philippine government’s stand on the “no -ly zone” edict issued by the UN over Libyan airspace even if the DFA had said on Sunday that the Philippines will abide by the proclamation.

DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said they see no adverse effect of this course of action on Filipinos still in Libya.

“As a member of the UN and as signatory to the UN Charter, the Philippines abides by the decision of the UN Security Council in imposing a no-fly zone over Libyan airspace,” Malaya said.

“This UN action is a humanitarian measure which is meant to safeguard the civilian population in Benghazi and other contested areas of said country,” he added.

Thomas also said during a chance interview at the reception for the US Peace Corps’ 50 years of volunteer work at his residence in Makati City that the US government understands that Philippine foreign policy is formulated in terms of its own citizens. - With Roel Pareño