4 Pinoys kidnapped from oil field in Libya

MANILA, Philippines - Four Filipinos were kidnapped from the Al Ghani oil field in central Libya on March 6, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Citing a report of the Philippine embassy in Tripoli, DFA spokesman Charles Jose said the heavily armed men who stormed the oil field also seized two Bangladeshis, a Ghanaian, a Czech and an Austrian.

Jose told a press briefing the embassy has stepped up coordination with Value Added Oil Field Services (VAOS) and Libyan authorities for the safe and immediate release of the kidnapped Filipinos.

He said the perpetrators of the kidnapping have not been identified.

“No one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and employer has not received any demand or ransom,” he said.

Three Filipinos were also seized from the Mabrouk oil field on Feb. 3, bringing the number of kidnapped Filipino workers in Libya to seven.