Filipino death toll in Algeria crisis rises to eight

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Foreign Affairs said that another Filipino has been confirmed killed in last week’s siege by Islamic militants of a remote natural gas plant in Algeria, bringing to eight the total number of Filipino fatalities.

The eighth Philippine fatality is a male, said Foreign Affairs Spokesman Raul Hernandez, without naming the victim.

“Today, our team in Algeria will be able to see the other unidentified remains,” he said.

“We have already informed their next of kin,” he said but refused to identify the victims saying it was upon the request of their families.

“Nakiusap sila na respetuhin ang kanilang pagdadalamhati,” Hernandez said.

In an interview on Radyo Inquirer, Hernandez said  that one Filipino worker remained unaccounted for, while four were still recovering from their wounds at an Algiers hospital.

The Philippine government has said 12 other Filipino workers survived the 72-hour hostage drama in the north African desert.

Dozens of foreigners were killed during a four-day standoff that ended in a bloody showdown with Algerian commandos on Saturday, with reports of summary executions. With Agence France-Presse