7 seafarers in Libya on way back to PH

The seven detained Filipino seafarers who were recently acquitted in Libya for fuel smuggling are now on their way to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday.

The seven crewmembers of the M/T Levante left the Libyan capital of Tripoli with Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Affairs Abdullah Mama-o.

Mama-o flew to Libya upon the instructions of President Duterte and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to personally thank the Libyan government and bring the seven back home. The seven OFWs have been held in Tripoli since 2017.

The seven seafarers were sentenced to four years in prison in November for allegedly attempting to smuggle 16 million liters of fuel.

On February 28, the Libyan High Court ordered the release of the seven Filipinos. The seven were among the 20 Filipinos who were arrested after the Libyan Coast Guard boarded and seized the Liberian-flagged tanker while it was anchored on international waters.

The 13 crewmembers were released in February last year and the Libyan authorities charged the remaining seven.

On Sunday, Mama-o met with Libyan Foreign Minister Taher Siala to deliver a letter from Locsin. He was accompanied by Philippine Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Mardomel Melicor and Philippine Embassy in Kuwait Chargé d’Affaires Dino Lomondot.