DFA: 35 Pinoy repatriates from Libya now in Egypt

UPDATED 3:00 p.m. - The 35 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who boarded a chartered sea vessel to flee from strife-torn Tripoli in Libya last week have arrived in Egypt and will soon board a flight to Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday. In an interview on dzBB radio, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said, “Yung 35 ay dumating na sa Egypt ... From Cairo, gagawin nila, they will be boarding a commercial flight papunta sa ating bansa." The 35 OFWs were among the first batch of foreign nationals who boarded a vessel chartered by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to leave Tripoli on Friday last week. 10 more OFWs Meanwhile, Hernandez said 10 more OFWs who sought repatriation are now en route to Benghazi. Hernandez said the Philippine embassy team led by Foreign Undersecretary Rafael Seguis was stopped by rebel forces and was advised not to continue the journey while heavy fighting is going on. Hernandez said the 10 OFWs will later proceed to Cairo, where they will take a flight to Manila. In the meantime, he said the Philippine embassy in Libya continues to communicate with Filipinos still in Libya who want to be repatriated. “Ang iba they decided to stay behind, they decided to stay behind and do their work," Hernandez said. - VVP, GMA News