The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Saturday, April 14, that monitoring of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Syria is still ongoing after the United States, the United Kingdom, and France launched a missile attack in response to the country’s alleged chemical weapons attack.
“We are in touch with the Philippine Embassy which is now checking on the condition of more than 1,000 of our kababayans in Damascus,” the DFA said.
According to DFA, the Embassy of Damascus has yet to receive any reports of Filipinos hurt due to the airstrike, UNTV reported.
The DFA added that they are ready to assist OFWs who seek to go back to the Philippines.
Meanwhile, labor secretary Silvestre Bello III underscored that the deployment ban to Syria is still imposed.
“We still coordinate. Basta (as long as) overseas worker, documented or not, we also extend help to them especially on the issue of reintegration and repatriation,” Bello assured.
The Philippine government has yet to give an official statement on the issue, saying that the priority for now is to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Syria.
“Inaatupag muna po natin iyong kanilang kaligtasan at saka na po tayo gagawa ng policy statement pagdating mismo doon sa isyu ng pagbobomba ng Syria,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said
There are about 1,000 Filipinos in the capital and nearby areas in Syria.
PHOTO: The Indian Express
