PH Seeks Assistance of Authorities in Iraq, Libya in Securing Release of 5 Filipinos Abducted by Armed Men

08 July 2018 – The Department of Foreign Affairs today requested the assistance of authorities in Iraq and Libya in securing the release of five Filipinos who were taken by armed men in two separate incidents in the two countries on Friday.

“The Department, through our embassies in Baghdad and Tripoli, has been informed that five of our kababayan have been taken by armed men in Iraq and Libya on Friday,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in a statement.

“We are in touch with authorities in Iraq and Libya and have requested their assistance in locating and securing the release of our missing kababayan,” Secretary Cayetano said.

Initial reports from the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad said two Filipinas were taken by still unidentified armed men along a highway in Uzem District, south of Kirkuk.

Chargé d’Affaires Julius Torres said the women were reportedly with two other Filipinas on their way to Baghdad from Kurdistan when their vehicle was stopped by the armed men.

Chargé d’Affaires Torres said that reports received by the Embassy indicate that the driver abandoned his vehicle and the four Filipinas who were then taken by the armed men. However, the reports said two of the Filipinas were later able to escape and are now in police custody.

In Libya, the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli said three Filipino technicians were among four foreign nationals taken by armed men from a waterworks project site also on Friday.

Chargé d’Affaires Mardomel Melicor said armed men entered the construction site located 500 kilometers from Tripoli early morning Friday and took five foreigners and four Libyan from their quarters.

Chargé d’Affaires Melicor said the armed men later released one of the foreign workers and all the Libyans. END