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Pinoy Abroad

Pinoy engineer abducted by anti-Gaddafi forces in Libya


The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that a Filipino engineer was abducted Monday morning by anti-Gaddafi forces in Tripoli. In a phone interview, DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez quoted a report from the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli which said that the rebels “ransacked" the house where the abducted Filipino was staying. The rebels took all “mobile phones, laptop computers, and other valuable items of the residents there," he said, adding that there was a mix of nationalities living there. Hernandez said the engineer — whose identity was withheld — was employed by a British-owned engineering firm based in Libya. The rebels also reportedly broke into the office of the company. “This information was relayed to our labor attaché in Tripoli by a Pinoy co-worker [of the abducted engineer]," according to the DFA spokesperson. Hernandez pointed out: “As of the moment, we are trying to exert our efforts to locate the kidnapped Filipino engineer." Vehicles seized The DFA also noted that at 10:50 a.m. Monday, a group of rebels stopped at the gate of the embassy in Tripoli and took a Land Cruiser vehicle, which was loaned to an International Organization for Migration representative. “[The] car was taken forcibly by rebels, with guns pointing at the IOM representative," the embassy report said. “They were also trying to take [other] cars that were there — a Toyota Prado and an old Mercedez Benz." The rebels left but threatened the workers there that they will attack the embassy, as the Philippines is supporting Libya, according to the DFA. “At 4:15 p.m., they came back and this time got the cars of our labor attaché, which are Kia Sorento and Hyundai Tucson," the DFA said. Libya conflict On Tuesday, forces still loyal to Libyan long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi staged a desperate stand in Tripoli as rebels fought their way into the capital, according to a report on Reuters. Rebels have urged Gaddafi, 69, to surrender and to have an orderly transition of power. Reuters said the six-month-old battle for control of the oil-rich North African nation appeared to enter its final stages. “Rebels say they are now in control of most of Tripoli," it said. More than 26,000 Filipinos were in Libya at the outbreak of hostilities six months ago. Philippine officials said that half of that number had been repatriated, but they could not account for the rest, apart from the 1,700. — Jesse Edep and Sandra Aguinaldo/RSJ, GMA News

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