High-level DFA team rescues 6 Pinoys in Libya

A high-level Philippine team led this week the “rescue" of six Filipinos trapped in conflict-plagued Libya, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Sunday. The DFA said the six Filipinos – five nurses and one engineer – were picked up at Zitlin towm after 23 days of being trapped near Misurata. “The six rescued Filipinos will join 28 others, which include nine nurses recently brought out of Tripoli through the Tunisian border, making a total of 34 more Filipinos who will fly out of Djerba on April 25," the DFA said in a news release posted on its website Sunday. It identified the six as Evangeline Garcia, Evjoalyn Calam, Catherine Galue, Valerie Joy Ventura, Celeste Cambangay and Vincent Sanchez. According to the DFA, the six recounted that government forces stormed the area where they were residing and camped beside their residence last March 18, just across the street where opposition forces were stationed. What followed, they said, were days of non-stop fighting. They said they could not leave because snipers from either side readily shot anyone seen on the street. A sniper shot at one of the nurses but hit a pack of powdered milk she was carrying. “Out of humanitarian compassion, the nurses risked their lives to treat the wounded soldiers. Ms. Garcia and Ms. Calam said that they had to break into an abandoned pharmacy across the street to get medicines and tools to treat and even perform surgical procedures on the casualties," the DFA said. Because of their service, the Filipinos were transferred by government troops to a safer place. Some 23 days later they found themselves in Zlitin, the town closest to west of Misurata where they were rescued by Embassy officials. The five nurses were part of the seven nurses working in National Oncology Institute in Misurata who were reported as having been abducted and listed as missing. The Embassy is verifying the status of the two remaining nurses. “We never expected na ililigtas kami. Gusto lang namin na mabigay sa embassy ang pangalan namin," (We never expected to be rescued. We only wanted our names given to the embassy)," the DFA quoted one of the nurses as saying. About 100 Filipinos, including 13 nurses, are still in Misurata. DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis led the Embassy reaction team that picked up the six and brought them to Tripoli, the DFA said. According to the DFA, Secretary Albert del Rosario – accompanied by Seguis and Ambassador Alejandrino Vicente – had proceeded to Misurata but was stopped by Libyan government forces when he was a few kilometers away from the war-torn city. There was heavy fighting in the area and radar detection of NATO aircraft approaching the city at the time. It was the third time Del Rosario went to Libya. The first was on February 25, where he led a group of over 400 Filipinos to Tunisia. He went to Libya a second time on March 22, where he made a final call for Filipinos to leave Libya, and accompanied 33 Filipinos out of Tripoli. “Secretary Del Rosario left for Libya, via Paris, on Tuesday. He returned in Manila Saturday night," the DFA said. 4 Pinoy household of Gaddafi nephew Before going to Misurata, the DFA said Del Rosario met with two Libyan ministers to make representations for the safety and welfare of Filipinos. During a meeting with Libyan Foreign Minister Adelati Obeidi, Del Rosario sought assistance in reaching some 100 Filipinos in Misurata and bringing out those who wish to leave. “Obeidi promised to enlist the help of personnel from the United Nations to get the Filipinos out of Misurata where fighting for control continues between government and opposition forces," the DFA said. Del Rosario also brought to Obeidi’s attention the case of the four Filipinas working in the household of Sahal Shareef, nephew of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The four reportedly expressed desire to go home. Obeidi assured Del Rosario the four would be brought to the Embassy to be asked whether they really want to go home. Also, Del Rosario requested if the government’s financial institutions could offer a facility through which Filipinos in Libya can remit money to their families in the Philippines, and allow Filipinos to exchange their Libyan dinars to dollars. But Obeidi aired the difficulty caused by the closure of international banking operations and by the freezing of Libyan government’s assets, but promised to study the two requests. Meanwhile, Del Rosario also met with Libyan Health Minister Mohammed Hijaze, who confirmed that out of 23 nurses in Misurata, 13 are still there. “The Health Minister praised the Filipinos for being the best workers in Libya’s hospitals," the DFA said. 2,000 Pinoys still in Libya The DFA said that out of 26,000 Filipinos, less than 2,000 have remained in Libya. Of this, an estimated 1,600 are nurses with dependents mostly in Tripoli. It said there are also several professors in the university. The DFA said it will continue to help Filipinos wanting to go out of Libya, and ensure their safety and welfare. - KBK, GMA News