DFA: 164 OFWs to be repatriated from Libya

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 164 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were repatriated from Libya last Saturday.

The Philippine Embassy in Tripoli reported that the d'Affaires Adel Cruz led the repatriation and accompanied the OFWs from Libya to Tunisia where they would board the flights to Manila.

The first batch composed of 44 OFWs arrived last Monday while the second batch with 47 more Filipino repatriates are expected to arrive on Tuesday. The third batch composed of 21 OFWs are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.

"The embassy team is currently finalizing the flight details of the fifty-two (52) other Filipino repatriates," the Department of Foreign Affais reported.

The latest arrival of OFWs from Libya brings the number of repatriates to 4,482 since May 2014.

Meanwhile, DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario reiterated the government's call to the 4,000 remaining Filipinos in Libya to sign up for mandatory repatriation.

"The DFA and the Embassy in Tripoli urge our remaining kababayans in Libya to avail themselves of the mandatory repatriation offer as soon as possible, before it becomes more difficult to repatriate them due to the continued deterioration of the security situation in the country," the DFA said in a statement.

The relatives of the remaining OFWs in Libya are also urged to appeal to their loved ones to return home to the Philippines.

The Palace earlier urged OFWs in the conflict-stricken country to avail the government's mandatory repatriation program.

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