DFA: PHL govt proud of Pinoy nurses who stayed in Libya

The Philippine government is proud of the Filipino nurses who chose to remain in strife-torn Libya to render humanitarian assistance there, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Raul Hernandez said on Wednesday. “In a way we are very proud also of them because they have made their commitments to their profession and to help in emergency humanitarian assistance in that country," Hernandez said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Hernandez’s statement came a day after the Philippine government said it was recognizing the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) as the “legitimate representative of the Libyan people." On Tuesday, the DFA said in a statement that the Philippines hopes the transitional council will lead Libya toward peace and stability. "The Philippines and Libya share a history of excellent relations based on friendship, understanding, and mutual respect. The Philippines looks forward to working with the Libyan people in sustaining and enhancing this relationship," the statement said. "The Philippines hopes to be able to contribute to the rebuilding of the new Libya in the form of Filipino professionals in the construction, energy and medical fields," the statement added. Repatriation of Pinoys Meanwhile, Hernandez said the DFA continues to facilitate the repatriation of Filipinos who want to return home. He said the first batch of more than 30 repatriates will arrive in the Philippines on Wednesday afternoon. Another batch of OFWs will arrive this weekend, he added. “(The second batch) will be able to fly back before the end of the week or by the weekend," he said. In the meantime, Hernandezsaid the DFA will continue to look after the safety of Filipinos in Libya. “Yan lang ang ginagawa natin. we are always making sure ang ating kababayan doon are helped especially distressed OFWs na dapat bigyan ng tulong kung anuman ang kailangan na tulong," he said. 24/7 monitoring Last week, 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. Hunt for Gaddafi Meanwhile, a Reuters report on Tuesday asid Libya's interim leader gave forces loyal to deposed ruler Muammar Gaddafi a four-day deadline to surrender towns still under their control or face military force. As the hunt for Gaddafi himself goes on, Libyan officials accused neighboring Algeria of an act of aggression for admitting his fleeing wife and three of his children. Anti-Gaddafi forces have converged on Sirte from east and west, but have stopped short of an all-out assault in hopes of arranging a negotiated surrender of Gaddafi's birth-place. Gaddafi has been on the run since his foes captured his Tripoli compound on Aug. 23 and his 42-year-old rule collapsed after a six-month uprising backed by NATO and some Arab states. A spokesman for the National Transitional Council said it would seek to extradite Gaddafi's relatives from Algeria, which is alone among Libya's neighbors in not recognizing the NTC. Nearly 60 countries have acknowledged the NTC as Libya's legitimate authority. Russia, China, India, South Africa and Brazil are among those which have so far withheld recognition. - with a report from Reuters, VVP, GMA News