Libya negotiating release of 3 kidnapped Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines — The Libyan government is negotiating for the release of three Filipino engineers who were kidnapped last month at a water project site in the North African state, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Libyan authorities have asked the Philippine government that they be allowed to negotiate the release of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

He said the Libyan government was investigating the motive behind the kidnapping.

“They have yet to determine if it is a case of kidnap for ransom or if the abductors want a swap of prisoners,” Bello said.

Three Filipino engineers and a South Korean were kidnapped at a Korean-owned water facility in western Libya on July 9.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier said it would deploy a special force to rescue the OFWs.

Bello said the Philippine government would no longer send OFWs to Libya due to security concerns.

He said they were also waiting for the release of seven Filipino seafarers from Libyan prison.