THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) moved fast to ban deployment to Libya and raised the Alert Level to 3 primarily for the Filipino migrant workers’ safety, the country’s top diplomat explained on Monday. This, as he praised the calmness and courage of Filipino nurses who have opted to stay in their work places despite the multi-cornered deadly conflict in the oil-rich North African country.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. was reacting to a report by the Philippine Embassy in Libya’s charge d’affaires, Elmer Cato, that he had visited Filipino nurses in the hospitals where they worked, and all had opted to stay there. This was a repeat of a similar situation years ago, when Libyan health enterprises persuaded Filipino workers to stay behind, even offering them premium pay for the risks involved.
“Rule No. I in DFA today: we never f . . ck around with our people’s safety.” Locsin tweeted, adding, “I will f . . you if you get in my way but not our people.”
He clarified that the ban on deployment is not a forcible evacuation. “It is a ban on further profits for assholes in government on the payroll of bad recruiters; like the ones who trafficked girls from southern Philippines.”
As newspapers headlined “Libya forces battle for Tripoli despite UN truce calls,” Locsin said: “This is a real proxy war with different Middle Eastern countries taking sides for and against the government backing their own militias.”
A netizen warned Locsin about his daughter’s concern for his use of expletives, but praised the DFA chief anyway.
“Sir, your daughter’s censorship! Anyhow, the ban on Libya deployment of workers as early as now is better than having casualties before implementing the ban. Kudos for an early action.”
Nearly a week of fighting on the city’s doorstep has already killed 56 people and wounded 266, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
“Thousands of people have fled their homes, while others are trapped in conflict areas. Hospitals inside and outside (Tripoli) are receiving daily casualties,” it said.
Meanwhile, the head of mission to Libya, Cato, tweeted that he visited Filipino nurses at the Oil Clinic in Tripoli to tell them about the DFA repatriation offer. “There were no takers. They said they would stay. It’s Day 10 of the conflict but only 19 of 1,000 Filipinos in Tripoli want to go home.”
Cato added: “For Filipinos in Libya, the situation in Tripoli is normal despite the danger that looms from the intense battles raging just a few kilometers away.”
To which Locsin replied in another tweet: “They are the best of the Filipino race.”