Following the release of the three Filipinos held captive in Libya, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. announced that the Filipino engineers have safely returned to the Philippines on May 18.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed its gratitude to the countries who are behind the release of the three Filipinos and a Korean national.
“We are glad that we are able to bring them home alive and safe to their families. These Filipinos coming home to their families are living proof that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will never leave a Filipino in danger behind,” Locsin said in a statement.
He also shared photos of the three Filipinos who have safely returned to their respective homes. Cash assistance was also provided to them.
Last July 2018, the engineers along with a South Korean national were abducted while working on a desalination project in Western Libya. There are no statements yet as to how and when the engineers were freed.
To recall, the four have been released thanks to “intensive efforts” made by the UAE “in coordination and cooperation” with the Libyan National Army, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said.
The civilians, who were held captive last year by some Libyan armed groups in west Libya, were airlifted to Abu Dhabi prior to being taken to their home countries.
“As a result of a solid cooperation and coordination between the UAE and the Libyan National Army, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Hafter, search efforts had continued and resulted in finding them safely.
“The UAE is working on sending them to their home countries.
“The release of these innocent civilians has been made after intensive efforts to convey a message about the significance and importance of strengthening security and peace in Libya, and to contain criminal practices by armed groups who hold civilians captive without any consideration to international charters and norms.
“In this case, they did not consider that these civilians work for companies that are serving national interests of Libya and its people,” the statement added.
