DFA sends 4-man team to Liberia

A four-man consular team will be going to Liberia to look into the hostage situation in its capital of Monrovia where two Filipino brothers were among those held captive by rebel forces, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Franklin Ebdalin instructed the Philippine Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria to send the team to confirm whether Renato and Julito Carpentero were, indeed, among the hostages.

In the meantime, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has assured the Philippine government that it will try to negotiate for the release of the two Filipinos.

The hostages are reportedly all in good condition, but their hostage-takers are demanding a $100,000 ransom.

Citing reports from the Philippine Embassy, Petronila Garcia, executive director of the DFA’s Assistance to Nationals Section, said the embassy in Nigeria is in touch with ECOWAS’ acting executive secretary Seyisou Gati.

"ECOWAS told the embassy that they will confirm with their negotiating team in Liberia the veracity of the report that two Filipinos were taken hostage. And if it is confirmed, they (gave assurance) that they will ask for their safe passage," Garcia said.

Reports said ECOWAS executive secretary Ibn Chambas is now in Monrovia to negotiate the ceasefire between the warring factions there, she said.

Garcia said the four-man consular team going to Liberia will also be tasked to go to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast to confirm whether several Filipinos have fled there from Liberia.

The embassy has received reports that four Filipinos left Liberia the other day, and that French forces have started moving foreign nationals out of Liberia to the Ivory Coast.

The embassy earlier had asked the remaining Filipinos in Liberia to leave the country temporarily for their safety until the peace and order situation there normalizes.

As of June 10, Garcia said the Philippine Embassy has listed 16 Filipinos staying in Liberia, including the Carpentero brothers.

The hostage-taking took place shortly after a coup attempt in Monrovia last June 5.

The Carpenteros have worked as heavy equipment mechanics in Monrovia since 1989 and they have dependents in Monrovia. It is not immediately known if their wives are Liberians or Filipinos.