Libyan rebel flags fly over Embassy of Libya in Makati

UPDATED 11:00 a.m. - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Libyan Embassy in Manila has sent a "note verbale" indicating that they are officially recognizing the National Transition Council in Libya. In an interview with GMA News TV's "News To Go" on Thursday morning, DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said the Libyan embassy said it will be hoisting the flag of the rebels within their premises. "That means that they are taking a side, and their side would be the side of the new [transition council]," Hernandez said. Asked if the Philippine government continues to recognize Muammar Gaddafi's government, Hernandez said: "We are actually happy that the transition is moving forward and that our people are safe." "Right now we are focused on the security and safety of our people there," Hernandez said. "It's important that they are kept safe by the government in place. But we are also talking to the National Transition Council for the safety and safe passage of our people for eventual repatriation." 'PHL supports peaceful transition' The Philippine government on Wednesday issued a statement saying the country "welcomes the imminent resolution of the conflict in Libya." "The Philippines supports a peaceful transition in Libya in order for normalcy to return to this country, and looks forward to working with the Libyan people in pursuing peace and stability," the statement published on the Official Gazette said. "The Philippine government thanks the Libyan people for keeping Filipinos and their families in Libya safe and for the hospitality extended to them throughout the conflict, including the Filipino medical workers who chose to remain in order to continue providing emergency humanitarian assistance to all parties in the conflict," the statement added. Million-dollar bounty for Gaddafi Meanwhile, a report of Reuters on Thursday said Libya's new leaders have offered a million-dollar bounty for the fugitive Muammar Gaddafi, who urged his men to fight on in battles across parts of the capital. A day after rebel forces overran his Tripoli headquarters and trashed symbols of his 42-year rule, scattered pockets of loyalist diehards kept the irregular fighters at bay as they hunted Gaddafi and his sons. Rebels also reported fighting deep in the desert and a standoff round Gaddafi's tribal hometown. In Tripoli, rockets and shooting kept largely kept civilians indoors and gunfire rang out in the centre into the night. Most were anxious but hopeful the war would soon end, and with it the worsening shortages of food, water and medical supplies -- both for hundreds of wounded and for the sick. "Gaddafi's forces and his accomplices will not stop resisting until Gaddafi is caught or killed," said Mustafa Abdel Jalil, head of the rebels' National Transitional Council (NTC), who offered amnesty to any of his entourage who killed the fallen strongman and announced a reward worth over $1 million for his capture. "The end will only come when he's captured, dead or alive," Abdel Jalil said in the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi. Libyan Embassy in Makati celebrates Earlier on Wednesday, a report by Jiggy Manicad on GMA News’ “24 Oras" said as Libyan rebels continue their siege of Gaddafi’s military fortress in Tripoli, the Libyan Embassy in Makati City brought down Gaddafi’s green design-less flag. The Embassy then reportedly destroyed pictures of Gaddafi and raised the old Libyan flag, which has three colors and a crescent moon and star in the middle, the report said. Employees of the Embassy and Libyans in the Philippines reportedly joined the celebration, chanting “Gaddafi no more!" and “Freedom!" the report added. Safe passage for Pinoys Also on Wednesday, the DFA said rebel groups in Libya gave the Philippine government an assurance that Filipinos will be allowed to leave their country safely. Hernandez told Malacañang reporters that the rebels "visited our embassy in Tripoli and assured us of a safe corridor for the passage of our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) to the port of Tripoli and onward." Once the repatriation arrangements have been prepared, Philippine officials will ask overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Libya to avail of the repatriation by sea which is being coordinated with the International Organization of Migration (IOM). Some 1,600 Filipinos are still in Libya, most of them are medical workers who are “faithful to their vocation," Hernandez said. Abducted Pinoy engineer Hernandez also said on Wednesday that the Filipino engineer reportedly abducted by rebel forces in Libya escaped from his captors and was already safe. “Hindi natin dini-disclose ang identity, ‘yan ang request ng family. Pero ang magandang balita nakatakas siya kahapon at ngayon he’s safe and sound and he’s staying in the house of a friend in Tripoli," Hernandez said in an interview on dzBB radio before dawn on Wednesday. - with a report from Reuters, VVP/HS, GMA News