52 OFWs who survived Algeria hostage-taking accounted for; 39 arriving in Manila 4 pm


Fifty-two overseas Filipino workers who survived the hostage-taking incident in an Algerian gas plant last week have been accounted for, with 39 arriving in Manila Sunday afternoon, according to Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez.

"39 OFWs who survived the hostage-taking incident in Algeria are arriving Manila this afternoon from Dubai via EK 332 at 4 p.m.," Hernandez said on his Twitter account.

In a later tweet, Hernandez said 52 of the OFWs working in the Algerian gas field have so far been accounted for.

"Our team in Algeria continues to coordinate with Algerian authorities and employers of OFWs to determine the whereabouts and conditions of other Filipinos working in the gas field and extend assistance including repatriation to the Philippines," he said.

In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace welcomes reports that the OFWs are safe and sound.

She said the OFWs who were evacuated worked at the gas plant.

“We’re happy to know they are safe and sound,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.

However, Valte declined to comment on reports that some Filipinos were among the casualties in the hostage incident, saying they are still verifying such reports.

“The authorities there have been very strict about information going out,” she said. — BM, GMA News

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