“Once again I am calling [on] our countrymen in Libya to refrain from taking chances and come back to the Philippines,” Binay, the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers (OFW) concerns, said in a statement.
“The situation is dangerous and the Philippine Embassy in Libya is ready to assist in the repatriation so they can come back,” he said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) previously raised crisis alert level 3 in Libya which means that voluntary repatriation will be implemented.
Libya’s security situation worsened after a senior military official attacked armed militias without authorization from the government.
The current violence is the worse in the country since a civil war ended in 2011 with the ouster and death of long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
“Under crisis alert level 3, the estimated 13,122 Filipinos are encouraged to leave Libya voluntarily as soon as possible,” Binay said.
Filipinos in Libya were advised to contact the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli to coordinate their repatriation and the government will be shouldering the repatriation cost.
The Philippine Embassy in Libya is in KM 7 Gargaresh Road, Abu Nawas, Tripoli. Its hotline number is (+218) 918244208, telephone number (+218-21) 483-3966, and official e-mail addresses: tripoli.pe@gmail.com; tripoli.pe@dfa.gov.ph.
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