Locsin tweets DFA assistant secretary for updates on OFWs in Libya

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. sent Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato instructions over Twitter on Monday morning and followed up with more tweets on Monday afternoon.
Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York Facebook, file

MANILA, Philippines —It could be a new way of promoting transparency at the Department of Foreign Affairs — or maybe he just really likes to tweet.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. sent Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato instructions over Twitter on Monday morning and followed up with more tweets on Monday afternoon.

Cato, who heads the DFA's Office of Public Diplomacy, replied on Twitter: "Yes Sir. We will resolve the homecoming issues conveyed to us by our workers both Iraq and Libya."

Although seeing this kind of public communication between government officials may be new to those who follow Philippines foreign affairs, its not as surprising for those who follow the Locsin, who is a former broadcast journalist and speechwriter and an outspoken Twitter user.

Locsin was appointed DFA secretary in October, replacing Alan Peter Cayetano, who stepped down to run for a seat in the House of Representatives.

Locsin said in another tweet that Filipinos in Libya are worried since the Philippines raised its alert level there to Level III. 

The DFA said in September that, under Alert Level III, Filipinos in Libya should start preparations for possible evacuation and all those with valid employment contracts currently on vacation in the Philippines will not be allowed to return.

On Monday afternoon, Locsin put pressure on the assistant secretary to publicly answer questions from OFWs.

 


READ: DFA places Libya under Alert Level 3

The DFA raised its alert level in response to escalating violence in Libya's war-torn capital Tripoli.

The DFA placed rapid response teams at the Philippine embassy in Tripoli to evacuate the 1,800 Filipinos who have been caught in the middle of the fighting. Last July, three Filipino engineers were kidnapped by an armed group and attempts by negotiators to secure their release were halted because of the fighting.

The DFA said in September that there are around 3,500 Filipinos total working in Libya. — Ryan Macasero

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