Locsin: Pinoy hostages in Libya released with help from ‘friends,’ no ransom paid

The Philippines did not pay a single centavo for the release of three Filipino engineers who were held hostage in Libya last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Sunday.

In a series of tweets over the weekend, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. claimed there was no ransom paid for the release of the hostages.

"No money passed. Not a friggin' cent. What we had was far better; what we had and have forever were old friends abroad to help. Semper fi," he said.

No money passed. Not a friggin’ cent. What we had was far better; what we had and have forever were old friends abroad to help. Semper fi. https://t.co/SPrqZF8GIn

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) May 19, 2019

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) foreign ministry said the three Filipinos, along with a Korean, were working on a desalination plant in western Libya when they were seized.

"Even Korea dismissed the 14 million Euro (ransom) suggested. In the end old friends pulled it off," said Locsin.

The same foreign ministry on Friday evening announced that all four hostages were released and flown to the UAE.

The Filipino hostages have since returned home to the Philippines and been reunited with their families. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News