A local militiaman, belonging to a group opposed to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, stands on an armored vehicle the group said they seized from Haftar’s forces at one of their bases in the coastal town of Zawiya, west of Tripoli on April 5, 2019, hours after Haftar’s forces were pushed back from a key checkpoint less than 30 kilometres (18 miles) from Tripoli, according to security source said. – The militiamen retook the base after a “short exchange of fire”, the source said April 5 on condition of anonymity. The Zawiya militia is one of dozens that have proliferated since the overthrow of veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 and are variously aligned with the UN-backed unity government in the capital and a rival administration in the east backed by Haftar’s forces. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — For now, there is no need for a forced repatriation of Filipino workers in Libya, Malacañang said Thursday, in the midst of armed conflict in the North African country.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the government was studying the situation in the strife-torn country.
“So, baka masyado namang hasty kung papauwiin natin, wala naman. So, depende sa sitwasyon. Again, that will be a studied reaction, titingnan natin ang sitwasyon bago tayo kumilos,” Panelo said in a Palace brieifng.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday raised Alert Level III in Tripoli and its adjacent districts.
READ: DFA raises alert level 3 in Tripoli, several districts in Libya
Alert Level III means repatriation would be voluntary on the part of overseas Filipino workers.
On Wednesday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ordered a total deployment ban to Tripoli and several other areas in Libya.
READ: DOLE orders total ban on OFW deployment to Tripoli, several districts in Libya
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