Gov't asks help from other countries in evacuating Filipinos in Libya

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government has been seeking help from other countries in repatriating some 13,000 Filipinos from strife-torn Libya due to some difficulties, a senior government official said today.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a news briefing in Malacanang, the presidential palace, that Philippine embassy officials face mounting challenges in bringing the overseas Filipino workers from conflict zones because they have to transport them to safe areas by land.

He also acknowledged the limited number of embassy staff in Libya.

Coloma said that Philippine embassies normally have 25 to 30 personnel and they could hardly accommodate the repatriation of 13, 000 Filipinos in Libya.

"That's why we're asking help from other countries, like Indonesia which has its nationals in those areas, to reduce danger for our people," he said.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs recently raised Alert Level 4, which requires the forced evacuation of all Filipinos in Libya.

A Filipino construction worker was recently abducted and beheaded by his kidnappers in the North African state.