MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines advised its nationals in Libya on Friday, May 23, to prepare for possible evacuation from the African country at the brink of civil war.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued this warning as it raised crisis alert level 2 (restriction phase) in Libya.

“Alert level 2 was raised upon the recommendation of the Philippine embassy in Tripoli due to the continued deterioration of the political and security situation in that country. Filipinos in Libya are advised to limit non-essential movements, to avoid public places, and to prepare for possible evacuation,” the DFA said in a statement.

“Under alert level 2, the Department of Labor and Employment only allows overseas Filipino workers with existing contracts (balik-manggagawa) to return to their host country,” it added.

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas estimates at least 2,720 Filipinos living in Libya.

The DFA’s statement came after a dramatic spike in lawlessness in Libya’s two largest cities, which pushed the country closer to civil war between heavily-armed rival militias. This had stirred concern abroad and in oil markets.

Gunmen stormed parliament in southern Tripoli on Sunday, May 18, hot on the heels of an anti-Islamist offensive launched by a rogue general in the eastern city of Benghazi.

With interim authorities failing to build a regular army and police force, militias have ruled the roost since their fighters ousted longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in a 2011 revolution. – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com