Priest: 500 Pinoys await repatriation in Benghazi, Libya

Some 500 more Filipinos have gathered in Benghazi in strife-torn Libya to seek repatriation, according to Fr. Ronnie Asuero, parish priest of the local English-speaking community there. “Karamihan dito medical workers at ang dumating na galing sa companies sa labas... sa disyerto, mga skilled workers (Most of these are medical workers. There are also skilled workers who arrived in Benghazi from the desert)," Asuero said in an interview on dzRH radio. He said at least 244 out of the 500 Filipinos were from one company alone. “Mahigit siguro, ewan ko lang kung aabot ito ng 500 plus na paalis (There are about 500 Filipinos wanting to go home)," Asuero said. He also said while the Filipinos can be brought to Libya’s border by bus, some Filipinos complained that some bus firms charged more than thrice the normal rate. “May dumating dalawa galing Tripoli, ang siningil sa kanila 100 dinars. Usually mga 30 lang yan (At least two Filipinos who came from Tripoli said they were charged 100 dinars to get to Benghazi. The normal rate is just 30 dinars)," he said. The priest also said many Filipinos were also afraid of the gunfire in the area. However, Asuero said travel by bus to the border is relatively safe. “By bus siguro mahaba ang biyahe pero ayon sa kanila okay naman dahil may sumasalo sa border. Okay naman siguro dahil maraming nakalusot (The trip may be long but it appears okay because there are Philippine teams at the border)," he said. Meanwhile, Asuero said occasional gunfire is still heard in Benghazi, although no Filipino has so far been reported hurt or killed. “Meron pa ring putukan dito. Ewan ko, parang paputok nila siguro parang nariyan pa sila (There is still some gunfire heard in the area. Perhaps local forces still want people to feel they are still there)," he said. – VVP, GMA News