PHL says sorry to Malta for Pinoy evacuee who did not board flight to Manila

The Philippine government has apologized to Malta after a Filipino evacuee from Libya did not show up on the day a Philippine evacuation plane was to fly back to the Philippines.
 
“We have expressed our regrets for what happened through a note verbale to the government of Malta,” Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose told a press briefing Monday.
 
The Maltese authorities are investigating the case of Rodrigo Andres, the Filipino worker evacuated from Libya who failed to board the second chartered flight from Malta last August 16.
 
“The Philippine government is extending its full cooperation in the investigation until its final resolution,” Jose said.
 
Andres was among the more than 800 Filipino workers in strife-torn Libya who were ferried to Malta through a Philippine-commissioned ship. From Malta, the evacuees boarded Philippine Airlines planes, except for Andres.
 
Despite the incident, the Philippine government expressed its appreciation for the government of Malta “for its full support and cooperation which resulted in the safe and efficient and successful transit of Filipino evacuees from Malta.
 
Manila also thanked the Libyan authorities and Libyan Red Crescent “for the crucial assistance extended amid challenging circumstances” the Philippine government’s repatriation efforts. — RSJ, GMA News

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