Philippines hopes for peace, stability in Libya

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines congratulated the Libyan people for their victory as world leaders hailed the death of Moammar Gadhafi as the end of an era of despotism and tyranny.

“The Philippines congratulates the Libyan people for their latest victory and the total liberation of Libya,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Friday.

As Libyans fired automatic weapons into the air and danced for joy, the Philippines said that the death of the man who had ruled the oil-rich country for 42 years would “lead to the immediate restoration of normalcy and peace throughout the country.”

“The Philippines hopes that the Libyan people’s aspiration for democracy will be fully realized and that it will yield peace, stability and prosperity for the Libyan people,” the DFA said.

Manila also thanked the Libyan people “for keeping Filipinos safe throughout the conflict, as thousands of Filipinos consider Libya their second home.”

“Many hope to return, work, and contribute to the reconstruction and rebuilding of the new Libya,” it said.

About 26,000 Filipinos were working in Libya before the uprising began early this year.

Gadhafi was fatally wounded as new regime forces launched a final assault on the last pocket of resistance in his hometown of Sirte on Thursday.