DFA: PHL foreign affairs officials 'trapped' in Libya

UPDATED 2:00 p.m. - Some of the country's foreign affairs officials are "trapped" inside the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli in the wake of the heightened violence in Libya, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Raul Hernandez said Monday. In an interview over radio dwIZ, Hernandez said the International Organization for Migration (IOM) advised Philippine officials not to venture outside the embassy for now. "Hindi makalabas at in-advise sila ng IOM huwag lumabas kasi delikado situation," Hernandez explained. Nasser Mustafa, Philippine Labor Attache to Libya, said about 86 Filipinos expressed their intent to come back to the Philippines amid the heightened violence in Libya. "Nagkaroon kami ng listahan ng ating mga kababayan na gusto nang umuwi. Ito 'yung mga taong gusto nang lumikas," Mustafa said in an interview on GMA News TV's "Balitanghali" newscast on Monday. "'Yung ibang workers, galing sa mga malalayong bayan, more than 100 kilometers from Tripoli." However, he said the Philippine embassy in Libya, together with Foreign Affairs undersecretary Rafael Seguis, advised Filipino workers in Libya to stay put while the violence in Tripoli is ongoing. "Mahirap pumunta (sa Tripoli) dahil magulo na at very tight ang checkpoints. We advised them (na) doon muna sila sa bahay or hospital, dahil baka sa pag-travel nila ay mapahamak pa sila," he said. He added that when it is safe to move Filipinos and other foreign workers out of Libya, they will be transported out of the country in a ship. "Wala nang ibang exit points kung 'di through the sea," he said. "'Yung ginagamit namin na exit points sa Tunisia ay 'di na madadaanan dahil sa ngayon. Ang highway ay closed na dahil ang tatlong bayan papunta doon ay nagkakaroon ng labanan." Meanwhile, Mustafa said there are still many Filipino workers who refuse to come home to the Philippines amid the rising tension in Tripoli and other parts of Libya. He said most of the workers do not want to go home for fear that they will not receive their gratuities from their companies if they do so. "Karamihan sa kanila dito matagal na, 10 to 20 years. Inaalala nila 'yung gratuity nila, 'di nila makukuha. 'Yun ang humahadlang sa kanila," he said. Workers were also scared that they would not find jobs in the Philippines, and even if they did, they would not earn as much as they do in Libya, Mustafa said. Libyan rebels on Monday entered Tripoli's central Green Square amid little or no resistance from forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, a source from the rebel National Transitional Council told Reuters by telephone. Rebel fighters waved opposition flags and fired into the air in jubilation after reaching the square, once reserved for carefully orchestrated rallies praising Gaddafi. On Sunday, Libyan rebels said they had seized control of pockets of Tripoli after a night of fighting, while allied forces advanced on the capital on Sunday, predicting a final showdown with Gaddafi. However, Gaddafi dismissed the rebels, fighting since February to topple him, as "rats" and said he would not yield. Close communication with Filipinos Even though Philippine officials cannot leave the embassy yet, they are closely coordinating with Filipino communities by phone. "Ang rebels nag-advance sa capital ng Tripoli. Ang ating Ambassador, si Undersecretary Rafael Seguis naroon ngayon, hindi na nakakalabas ng embahada kasi matindi na ang labanan sa kalye ng Tripoli," Hernandez said. "Pero last Saturday nagpunta sila sa hospitals kung saan nagtatrabaho ang ating kababayan at iparating sa kanila ang pag-alala ng gobyerno at hikayatin sila lumikas," he added. Seguis and embassy officials are working on an arrangement with the IOM to bring the remaining Filipinos out of Libya. "Ang OFWs nasa Tripoli at surrounding environs mga 1200... Ang hospitals punong-puno. Naroon sila pero handa sila, ang iba handa naman magpalikas kung kakailanganin at kung handa ang maaaring gamitin para lumikas out of Tripoli," Hernandez said. He said Philippine officials are working out a mechanism where Filipinos can meet at a specific area when the need for repatriation arises. Exit points Hernandez explained that repatriation may be more difficult now because the exit points towards Tunisia are inaccessible at present. "May mga labanan doon. Ang nakikitang route ay sea route sa paggamit ng barko. Ito inaayos ng IOM pero hinihintay natin kailan ito darating doon para mailikas ang gusto lumikas," he said. - with a report from Reuters, Candice Montenegro/VVP/YA, GMA News