DFA: 400 seats on chartered ship reserved for Pinoys in Libya

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reserved least 400 seats for Filipinos in strife-torn Libya who want to be repatriated to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday. In a statement, the DFA said this contingency plan resulted from the coordination between Philippine Ambassador to Libya Alejandrino Vicente and DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis. "As a result of the said coordination, IOM has entrusted the Embassy 400 passenger seats on a chartered ship for Filipinos," the DFA said. So far, the DFA said out of some 1,600 Filipinos who are still in Tripoli and its neighboring suburbs, 86 have signified their intention to leave Libya. In an interview over radio dwIZ earlier on Monday, DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said the IOM advised Philippine officials, including Seguis, not to venture outside the embassy for now. "Hindi makalabas at in-advise sila ng IOM huwag lumabas kasi delikado situation," Hernandez explained. DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario earlier ordered Seguis to proceed to Tripoli on August 12 to convince the remaining Filipinos there to avail of repatriation. Seguis was instructed to visit neighboring towns and hospitals and to arrange for the repatriation of Filipinos who wish to leave Libya. The DFA said its Rapid Response Team (RRT) is now in Djerba to help the Embassy in the repatriation of the remaining Filipinos in Libya. Libyan rebels on Monday entered Tripoli amid little or no resistance from forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, a source from the rebel National Transitional Council told Reuters by telephone. On Sunday, Libyan rebels said they had seized control of pockets of Tripoli after a night of fighting. However, Gaddafi dismissed as "rats" the rebels who have been fighting since February to topple him and said he would not yield to them. "Seguis reported that there are some clashes happening on the streets of Tripoli and its neighboring suburbs as well as celebratory activities of people there," the DFA said. Parts of the capital have already been occupied by advancing rebel forces, including the Green Central Square, it added. 24/7 monitoring Meanwhile, the DFA said the Embassy's monitoring center continues to operate "24/7" or 24 hours, seven days a week. The Embassy continues to enjoin Filipinos in Libya not to go out into the streets but to stay in their homes and workplaces. The Filipinos were advised to wait for a notice from the Embassy about their repatriation. The DFA continues to maintain hotlines for families of Filipinos who are in Libya. The hotline numbers are 834-3240, 834-3245, and 834-3333. - VVP, GMA News