DFA: Three Pinoys on Greek tanker wounded in Libya air strike

Three Filipino seafarers were injured in an air strike on a Greek-owned oil tanker vessel docked in a port in Derna, Libya, a report from GMA's “Balita Pilipinas” said Tuesday.
 

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Asec. Charles Jose, one of the Filipinos was seriously hurt while the two others are now in stable condition.

 

“In-admit po sa ospital itong ating mga kababayan at isa po ay nasa ICU at 'yung dalawa po ay nag sustain lamang ng mga minor injuries,” Jose said.

 

He also said that the other Filipino nationals who were among the oil tanker's crew were unharmed.

 

“Bukod po sa tatlong nasaktan lahat naman po ay nasa mabuting kalagayan,” Jose said.

 

However, a Greek and a Romanian national who were part of the crew were reportedly killed during the air strike.

Libyan military officials said the vessel had acted suspiciously after a warning not to enter port and said it was suspected of transporting Islamist militants to Derna, the eastern port city where the ship was at anchor when it was hit on Sunday.

 

“Ang nagsagawa nitong air strike ay itong tinatawag na Operation Dignity Forces. Ito na lang po ang natitirang parang official na armed force sa Libya,” Jose said.

 

He added that they are now in the process of contacting the families of the Filipino seafarers to let them know what happened.

 

In another statement, the DFA said it will closely coordinate with the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli and extend the necessary assistance to the Filipino nationals and their families.

 

It also appealed to other Filipino nationals in Libya to avail of the Government's repatriation program since the country remains under the DFA's Alert Level 4 status which entails mandatory repatriation.—Andrei Medina with Reuters/NB/KBK, GMA News