DFA asks DND to send planes for ‘shuttle flights’ from Libya

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday it has asked the Department of National Defense to send planes to Libya for shuttle flight services for Filipinos there who want to go home. “We said we needed flight services between Libya and nearby countries where commercial flights are available" to take fleeing Filipinos home, DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said in an interview aired on government-run dzRB radio. Malaya said they have already made the necessary arrangements such as flight clearances and landing rights. “Our request is that the Defense Department can dispatch their available aircraft and we will handle the rest," he said. Meanwhile, the second batch of OFWs from Libya arrived at 12:30 p.m., according to a report on dzBB radio. Radio dzBB’s Mao dela Cruz reported the second batch of 34 OFWs arrived on a Singapore Airlines flight, with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration representatives on hand to meet them. An earlier batch of OFWs arrived Saturday morning via a Gulf Air flight. Another batch is due to arrive Saturday afternoon. — LBG, GMA News