Pinoy fatalities in Libya hotel attack not yet confirmed –DFA

The Philippine government is still verifying reports that two Filipinos were among the fatalities in the terrorist attack on an upscale hotel in Libya, but confirmed that a Filipino woman was among those injured in the assault.

A report by Agence France-Presse earlier said two Filipinos where among the five foreigners killed when gunmen, who later blew themselves up, stormed a luxury hotel in Tripoli popular with diplomats and officials Tuesday in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the Filipino victim sustained five gunshot wounds and was declared out of danger after undergoing surgery.

“She is in stable condition,” Jose told a press briefing.

Jose said he cannot disclose the identity of the Filipina without her family’s consent, but revealed that she works for an energy company in Libya.

The victim’s husband and brother told embassy officials that they intend to avail of the Philippine government’s mandatory evacuation program as soon as the doctors declare her fit to travel, Jose said.

The latest attack involving a Filipino in Libya highlights the danger faced by hundreds of Philippine nationals working in the country, which has been plagued by several months of civil unrest.

Embassy officials, Jose added, have contacted different major hospitals and coordinated with relevant authorities in Libya to check if there are other casualties form the hotel attack, but no other Filipino – injured or dead – have been reported.

Due to the volatile security situation in Libya, the Philippine government placed the North African state under crisis level 4. Under this phase, all Filipinos are encouraged to avail of evacuation being offered by the Philippine government.

“We appeal to all our nationals there to take extra precaution and avail of repatriation,” Jose said.  —KBK, GMA News

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