46 more OFWs home from Libya

MANILA, Philippines - Forty-six more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returned home from Libya yesterday, bringing the total number of repatriates from the war-torn country to 579, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

According to the DFA, the OFWs arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on separate flights from Libya.

The DFA had warned that foreigners, including Filipinos and non-Muslims have become high-value targets in the strife-torn country.

A Filipino construction worker was kidnapped and beheaded by militants in Benghazi on July 15.

According to the Philippine embassy in Tripoli, they received information that the Filipino and his Libyan and Pakistani companions were in a vehicle when they were stopped by armed men at a checkpoint in Benghazi.

The Filipino was allegedly singled out because he was a not a Muslim.

The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of $160,000 or about P6.9 million. Four days later, however, his body was discovered at a hospital.