Filipino engineer feared abducted by Libyan rebels

MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino engineer was feared to have been abducted by rebel forces in Tripoli as he disappeared after they raided the headquarters of a British engineering company early Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters at a news briefing Tuesday afternoon that a group of rebels also barged into the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli and took at gun point three vehicles.

Hernandez declined to name the Filipino engineer, but identified the company he was working for as the First British Engineering Co.

He said the rebels raided a building occupied by Filipinos and other foreign nationals.

“He is the caretaker of the office and until this time he is still missing.” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said the information in the Filipino’s reported abduction was relayed to the foreign office the Philippine labor attache in Libya who cited the statements by the engineer’s co-workers.

He added that the armed men also took cell phones, laptops and other valuables in the engineering company’s office.

He said that later in the day, at around 10:50 in the morning, a group of rebels barged into the Philippine embassy and took the Land Cruiser of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) representative who was at the embassy at that time.

He said the armed men also tried to take two other vehicles of the embassy, but relented when told they were owned by the Philippine Embassy whose nationals have supported and helped the Libyans.

“But they came back in the afternoon and took the vehicles, but did not harm anyone in the embassy,” Hernandez added.

He said that the two incidents involving Filipinos have been reported to the Libyan police.

“The embassy is exerting all efforts to know the whereabouts of the missing Filipino engineer,” Hernandez said.

He said that the Philippine government “still deals with the people from Gadhafi government.”

Asked if the government had initiated back-channel talks with the leadership of the rebel forces, Hernandez replied, “Not yet.”

He said that all Philippine officials, including Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, who were in Libya and employees of the embassy, were safe.

He also said that the Filipino housemaid in a Gadhafi household was safe and in contact with the embassy.

He said Seguis and company were trapped in a building in Tripoli while fierce fighting raged outside. “They are all safe and Usec Seguis was able to speak to the foreign minister,” Hernandez said.

He said Seguis’ meeting with the Libyan minister revolved around repatriation, the safety of the Filipinos who are still in the city and the safety of Gadhafi’s Filipino maid.

First posted 4:15 pm | Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011