DFA exec: 23 more Pinoys leave Libya

At least 23 Filipinos were brought out of strife-torn Libya Monday night even as more are starting to contact Philippine officials there to seek help in leaving. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis made this claim Tuesday even as he said there were still no reports of Filipinos hurt in the wake of western attacks. "Kagabi may umalis 23 na OFW na papunta Djerba at from Djerba (maaring) papunta na sa Maynila (On Monday night, 23 OFWs managed to leave for Djerba, and from there they can get a trip home)," Seguis said in an interview on dzBB radio. He also cited reports from the Philippine Embassy there that more Filipinos have expressed their intention to leave Libya. Seguis did not give figures on how many Filipinos had contacted the embassy to inform them of their decision to leave, however. "Ayon sa ambassador, may unti-unting kumokontak ... pakaunti-kaunti lang (Our ambassador reported they are contacting the embassy one by one)," he said. Earlier, the DFA made a "last call" to the Filipino community in Libya to leave, amid intensified attacks by western forces there. Many of those who stayed were nurses and professionals who said they do not want to leave their patients. An estimated 2,000 Filipinos had chosen to stay behind despite repeated government calls for them to leave. — LBG, GMA News