VP BINAY: PRAY FOR SAFETY OF TWO REMAINING OFWS IN GADDAFI HOUSEHOLD

Vice President and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) concerns Jejomar C. Binay Saturday called on the public to pray for the safe return of the two Filipinas who remained at the household of deposed Libyan leader Moammer Gaddafi’s relative.

“Dagdagan pa natin ng dasal para ‘yong dalawa e makabalik din dito nang maluwalhati,” Binay said in an interview after he welcomed Diana Jill Rivera and Mary Ann Ducos-Almario, who were able to escape the Gaddafi family.

Rivera and Almario, together with Labor Attache to Libya Nasser Mustafa, arrived Saturday evening from Tunisia and rejoined their families who waited for them at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office in Pasay.

Binay thanked Mustafa and the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli for the successful rescue of Rivera and Almario. Likewise, he urged them to continue their efforts at bringing home the two remaining OFWs at the Gaddafi household.

“Titingnan natin kung paano makaka-contact. Tandaan lang ninyo na mahirap makipag-usap sa rebelde o sa gobyerno kasi baka mapagkamalan tayong may kinakampihan sa kanila,” Binay said.

In March this year, Jennifer Rivera approached the Vice President and sought his help to bring home her sister, Diana Jill. Binay assured her that he would closely coordinate with Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos to facilitate the repatriation of the Filipino house helpers.

According to Mustafa, the rescue operation for Rivera and Almario was scheduled on September 22 but got implemented three days earlier. He said that on September 18 or a day prior to the rescue, soldiers of the National Transitional Council ransacked the house where Rivera and Almario were staying.

As OWWA members, Rivera and Almario received P10,000 financial relief assistance from the agency. They will undergo an on-the-job training at Hotel Academy and will be employed by Days Hotel in Cebu.