An organization of overseas Filipinos praised Franciscan priest Allan Arcebuche for his help in repatriating at least 12,000 Filipino workers stranded in Libya.

In a thanksgiving Mass over the weekend, representatives of Migrante International presented to Father Arcebuche a plaque of appreciation and gratitude “for sharing his invaluable time and efforts to uphold the general welfare and protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Libya.”

The praised the priest’s “unfailing commitment and leadership that empowered the Filipino community and forged their unity.”

The Mass, which was attended by the repatriated workers, offered prayers for the safety of Filipinos in Syria, Bahrain and Yemen who are experiencing the effects of the so-called “Arab Spring.”

There are currently 31,000 Filipinos in Bahrain, 17,000 in Syria and 1,400 in Yemen. In Libya, at least 14,000 Filipinos were left behind, according to Migrante International.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said more than  that number in Libya were out of harm’s way as of last week.

The Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration, on the other hand, said 9,884 have been repatriated since February.

Official government figures put the number of registered Filipinos in Libya at 26,000.

“We are worried because as in Libya before, the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] is stating that Filipinos are ‘relatively safe,’ yet they have already issued travel advisories warning Filipino nationals from traveling to these countries,” said Garry Martinez, head of Migrante International.

“There is conflicting information; what is the real situation there?” he added.

The Department of Labor and Employment issued travel and deployment bans in Bahrain, Yemen and Syria.

In Yemen, the DFA raised the alarm to Alert Level 3 and offered “voluntary repatriation” at government’s expense.

“But they still do not have clear plans for the tens of thousands of undocumented Filipinos there,” Martinez said.

The group has been receiving reports that Filipinos in these countries are in need of food and other supplies.

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