Palace: It’s a fresh start for Libya

MANILA, Philippines—Moammar Gadhafi’s end is “a fresh start for Libya,” Malacañang said on Saturday.

“We recognize that it’s the last chapter or the new beginning for the people of Libya. We sincerely hope that this will pave the way for the coming of democracy for Libya,” said Undersecretary Abigail Valte, President Aquino’s deputy presidential spokesperson.

“It’s a fresh start for them,” she added over state-run dzRB.

In August, Malacañang expressed support for the “transition” in Libya when rebel forces wrested control of most of the Arab nation from longtime strongman Moammar Gadhafi.

“The Philippines welcomes the imminent resolution of the conflict in Libya,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement in late August.

Lacierda’s statement came in the wake of an assurance from Libyan rebels to the Philippine embassy in Tripoli that fleeing Filipino migrants would be given safe passage en route to their repatriation by sea.

“The Philippines supports a peaceful transition in Libya in order for normalcy to return to this country, and looks forward to working with the Libyan people in pursuing peace and stability,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda added that the Philippine government thanks the Libyan people for keeping Filipinos and their families in Libya safe and for the hospitality extended to them throughout the conflict including the Filipino medical workers who chose to remain in order to continue providing emergency humanitarian assistance to all parties in the conflict.