Palace says labor chief on top of Libya situation

MANILA, Philippines — The government is working to ensure the safety of Filipinos in war-torn Libya, Malacañang said yestreday.

“The secretary of labor is on top of it. The President has given him a directive. He is now enforcing it,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said at a press briefing.  

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. appealed to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Libya to come home.

Earlier, Locsin left it to the OFWs to decide for themselves whether to be repatriated or not.

“Please go to the embassy, I beg you,” Locsin posted on Twitter.

Last week, Locsin rejected a mandatory evacuation of OFWs in Libya, saying the workers have the final say on whether to come back or not.

In a post on Twitter, former Philippine ambassador Victoria Bataclan reminded Locsin that it’s the government’s responsibility to evacuate the people.

“Sir, don’t you think that as parens patriae the government should evacuate our people there?”

Locsin replied: “We can declare Alert Level 4 for mandatory evacuation but they won’t go if they don’t feel like it. After that we are supposed to evacuate our diplomatic mission, but we will not while any Filipino is still in Tripoli making up his or her mind. It is what we are.”

A large Philippine flag lies spread on the roof of the Philippine embassy in Libya to send a message that the country is “everyone’s friend” and to protect Filipinos in the strife-torn nation.

“So no excuse for a misdirected drone or artillery strike. Please protect our people,” Locsin tweeted.

The DFA raised Alert Level 3 (voluntary repatriation) in Libya and urged Filipinos to consider getting themselves and their dependents repatriated to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

In raising the alert from Level 2 (restriction phase) to 3, the DFA cited its obligation to ensure the safety and security of all Filipinos overseas.

The embassy recommended raising the alert level after the fighting escalated. – Pia Lee-Brago