OFWs in war-torn Libya continue to defy mandatory evacuation order

Filipinos in war-torn Libyan capital Tripoli have continued to ignore the Philippine government's mandatory evacuation order amid the raging armed clashes in the city.

GMA News' Isa Umali on Super Rdyo dzBB quoted Chargè d’Affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad Elmer Cato as saying that some OFWs in Libya have chosen to stay despite the danger, saying that they are earning good income despite the civil war in the north African country.

Most of those who ignore the mandatory evacuation are nurses working in hospitals.

But, Cato said that the government would continue to encourage Filipinos to go home for their safety.

Philippine authorities have enforced a mandatory evacuation of Filipino workers in the Libyan capital of Tripoli and other conflict-torn areas within its 100-kilometer radius due to worsening security situation there.

Earlier, the DFA placed Libya under Alert Level 4 after a number of Filipinos suddenly found themselves in the middle of fierce fighting in Tripoli.

Under this security warning, all Filipinos there are asked to leave and join the ongoing evacuation being offered by the Philippine government.

More than 1,000 Filipino workers are still in Libya. —LBG, GMA News