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 yesterday.
The seven crew members 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 instructions of President Duterte and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. to personally thank the Libyan government and bring the seven back home. The seven OFWs have been held in Tripoli since 2017.
They were sentenced to four years in prison in November for allegedly attempting to smuggle 16 million liters of fuel.
Last Feb. 28, the Libyan High Court ordered the release of the seven Filipinos. (Roy Mabasa)