PH seeks help of Iraq, Libya for release of 5 kidnapped Filipinos

The Philippine government on Sunday said it has sought the help of the authorities in Iraq and Libya in locating and securing the release of five Filipinos who were abducted in two separate incidents in the two countries last week.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippine embassies in Baghdad and Tripoli are in touch with the respective authorities from the two countries concerning the abduction of the five Filipinos by still unidentified armed men.

The Philippine Embassy in Baghdad said two Filipinas were

abducted along a highway in Uzem District, south of Kirkuk.

Citing sketchy reports, Chargé d’Affaires Julius Torres said the women were reportedly onboard a vehicle with two other Filipinas on their way to Baghdad from Kurdistan when they were stopped by the armed men.

According to Torres, the reports received by the Embassy indicated that the driver abandoned his vehicle and the armed men then took the four Filipinas.

Torres added that the same reports said two of the Filipinas were able to escape and are now reportedly in police custody.

In the abduction incident in Libya, the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli Chargé d’Affaires Mardomel Melicor said three Filipino technicians were among four foreign nationals taken by armed men from a waterworks project site, also on Friday.

Armed men reportedly entered the construction site located 500 kilometers from Tripoli and took the five foreigners and four Libyans from their living quarters.

Melicor said the armed men later released one of the foreign workers and all the Libyans.