PHL govt identifies four exit routes for Pinoys in Libya

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday identified four exit routes for Filipinos in the event of an airport shutdown in strife-torn Libya.

Among these are by land, such as Egypt and Tunisia, and by sea through Malta and Greece, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose told reporters.

“We have identified these exit routes in the event the airports in Tripoli and Benghazi will close down,” Jose said.  

Libya has been plunged anew into civil war, with Philippine officials describing the security situation there as “volatile.”

The North African state has been without a functioning government for weeks since gunmen stormed parliament in May 18 amid an anti-government uprising that is fast-spreading across the country.

The heightened tensions in Libya has prompted the Philippines last week to enforce voluntary repatriation for more than 13,000 Filipinos workers there.

“We continue to call on our Filipino workers there to avail of the government’s voluntary repatriation program as the security situation Libya continues to deteriorate,” Jose said. “Repatriation cost will be shouldered by the Philippine government.

So far, only 51 Filipinos have registered for evacuation at the Philippine Embassy and Jose said they can be flown back to Manila as soon as possible.

“While the airports remain open, they will take commercial flights out of Libya,” Jose said.

Despite the armed hostilities, many Filipinos continue to ignore Manila’s call to leave Libya, citing lack of economic opportunities in the Philippines, while others said they do not feel any threat to their security.

“I hope they would join the repatriation before the situation gets worse,” Jose said. —KBK, GMA News

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