Gov’t vows aid for kin of 3 kidnapped OFWs in Libya

“OWWA is already giving them financial assistance including possible livelihood assistance and scholarship program for all their children,” DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said. (PNA file photo)

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday assured assistance for the families of three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were kidnapped by armed insurgents in Libya.

In an interview, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he has directed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to provide appropriate aid to the three families.

“OWWA is already giving them financial assistance including possible livelihood assistance and scholarship program for all their children,” he said.

The DOLE chief added that OWWA is also coordinating with the employers of the three OFWs regarding their salaries.

“Actually, OWWA is giving the financial assistance. I instructed Administrator Hans Cacdac to get in touch with the agency that deployed them so that they should provide the wife or family of the three OFWs of their salary,” he said.

Bello also reported that they are also looking to hire one of the children of the OFWs, who has a degree on information technology (IT) and has civil service eligibility.

“I asked him to submit requirements, it looks like we may be able hire him since he is qualified,” he added.

On the other other, the Labor and Employment head said that they are just awaiting for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to call for a meeting regarding the efforts to rescue the three OFWs.

“We assured them that the government is doing everything to obtain their safe rescue or release,” Bello added.

On Monday, the DOLE chief met with the wives of the three OFWs at the DOLE head office.

In July, a group of armed men abducted three Filipino engineers and a South Korean national during an attack on a waterworks project in Libya.