4 fatalities, 4 survivors of Algerian hostage crisis to arrive in PHL


ANDREI MEDINA, GMA News

Eight Filipino victims of the Algerian hostage crisis—four survivors, and four bodies—will arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“Four survivors and four fatalities are arriving today,” DFA Spokesman Raul Hernandez told GMA News Online via text message.

There is also one Filipino still missing in Algeria, according to a report by News TV Live's Mark Salazar.

The foreign department has not released the victims' names to the public as per the request of their families. DFA also requested media groups to give space to the families so they could mourn in peace.

Meanwhile, an oil pipeline located 70 kilometers from the gas field where the hostage crisis occurred was attacked by suspected rebels on Tuesday, the report said.

Two guards were reported to have been killed while seven were injured. It has not yet been established whether this incident is related to the hostage crisis, where 77 foreigners perished along with eight Filipinos.

GMA News Online sought a comment from the DFA but it has yet to provide a statement on the issue.

Based on the stock estimate of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (2011 data), there are more than 9,000 Filipinos in Algeria. — BM, GMA News

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