Philippine gov't continues to recognize Libyan gov't

Despite the raging violence in Libya, including in its capital Tripoli, the Philippine government continues to recognize the Libyan government, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said on Monday. "We continue to recognize the Libyan government as manifested by the presence of our embassy in Tripoli, which continues to serve over 2,000 of our overseas Filipino workers who remain in Libya," Del Rosario said. However, Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said there is no change in the level of its security warning in Libya. The Philippines, he said, maintains alert level 4 in the country, which calls on all Filipinos there to leave. Contrary to negative perception on Libya, AbdulHadi Lahweej, Libyan Secretary of Expatriates Immigrants and Refugees Affairs, said the situation in the country is stable except in areas controlled by the rebels. Libya, at the moment, he said "is very peaceful and quiet" and that "life is quite calm in Tripoli except in places where armed criminal groups are dominating." Lahweej said his government has guaranteed protection of Filipino workers, who are mostly employed in Libyan hospitals. "We are taking care of them. Some of them had to leave at the beginning of the events, but some are staying in Libya and we are now calling those who left to get back to Libya," Lahweej told a press conference. Lahweej, who described Filipino workers as "very kind and respectful," said they need more workers from the Philippines, especially those in the medical field. The Philippines is Lahweej's first stop in his Asian tour to hold dialogue with government officials on the current situation in Libya. Lahweej said his government is not seeking support or backing from the countries he is visiting, noting that his mission is to show a clear and accurate picture of the situation in Libya. Most Filipino workers, who opted to stay in Libya, were promised an increase in their salaries if they stay, while others feared they would lose entitlement to gratuity pay equivalent to one full month's pay if they do not finish their contracts.