By Ferdinand Patinio/PNA
MANILA — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday he is set to visit Libya in February to help release seven Filipino seafarers who have been detained there since 2017.
“There is a development to the effect of me going to Libya and work for the release of the seafarers. We may be able to obtain their releases, which will require me to visit Libya,” the labor chief said in an interview.
Bello noted that the visit was originally planned this January but he decided to move it to next month.
“It’s too close already. I will probably go there in mid-February. I may have to spend Valentine’s Day there,” he said.
In August last year, a total of 20 Filipino crewmen of Greek-owned oil tanker, MT Levante, were seized and detained in Libya after being accused of involvement in smuggling.
The seven Filipinos remain at the Mitiga airbase jail facility while the other 13 were freed last year after charges against them were dropped.
