Bulletin: Secretary Locsin Welcomes Released Hostages From Libya

18 May 2019 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. welcomed today the three Filipino civil engineers who were taken hostage in Libya in July 2018.

Accompanied by Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Hjayceelyn M. Quintana, the three Filipinos arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 this morning onboard PR 0659.

Upon welcoming the Filipino civil engineers with their families, Secretary Locsin said that he is happy to see the Filipinos alive.

“We are glad that we are able to bring them home alive and safe to their families. These Filipinos coming home to their families are living proof that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will never leave a Filipino in danger behind,” he said.

The DFA, through the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, shouldered their airline tickets to Manila and provided them cash assistance.

Secretary Locsin also reiterated the Philippines' appreciation to the efforts of the countries that led to the release of the three Filipinos and their Korean colleague.

The three Filipino engineers and their South Korean colleague were taken by armed men from the project site of the Great Man-Made River Project in the southern part of Libya. END