The Philippine Embassy in Tripoli reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that it has managed to take into its custody two of the Filipino household service workers (HSWs) employed by the family of a nephew of the deposed Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi on September 19.
The two Filipinas, Diana Jill Rivera and Mary Ann Ducos, met up with an Embassy team who waited in two cars near the residence where they worked. They left the residence without bringing with them any of their belongings.
The Embassy team brought them to Tunisia where they are now staying while awaiting their bookings for their trip to Manila. With them is a member of the Embassy’s Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) staff.
Their families, concerned over their safety particularly at the height of the political crisis in Libya, had asked the Philippine Government’s assistance in their rescue and repatriation.
Ambassador Alejandrino A. Vicente said the breakthrough came only recently after the Embassy team had made several visits around the residence. He credits the successful operation to the Embassy team led by Labor Attache Nasser S. Mustafa.
Ambassador Vicente said Ms. Rivera and Ms. Ducos should be able to return to Manila and to their families within the week.
On the other hand, two others–Zenaida Labugen and Racquel Dadang –who are now working in the household of another Gadhafi relative, have not expressed a desire to be repatriated or to go home. They are also in contact with the Embassy.
The case of the four HSWs figured in the talks between the highest officials of the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, in their recent trips to Libya.
The Philippine officials had asked for the workers’ release from their employers on compassionate grounds as their respective families were worried for their safety.
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