The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has assured about the evacuation of 380 Filipinos from Ukraine.
However, there is no set date for repatriation despite a serious threat of Russian invasion.
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“Each foreign service post has contingency plans for emergencies,” said Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Eduardo Martin R. Meñez, adding, “Warsaw PE (Philippine Embassy) is in a state of readiness but there are levels of emergency, and mandatory repatriation level has not been called yet.”
The Philippines also has an honorary consulate general in Kyiv, which is supervised by the embassy in Moscow.
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“And even if called (mandatory repatriation), we cannot force Filipinos to leave. If you recall recent events in Afghanistan, there were Filipinos who decided not to leave even at the height of emergency,” he said.
Meñez said they have yet to receive requests for repatriation among members of the Filipino community in Ukraine adding, “I don’t think the Filipinos have requested to return to (the) Philippines yet, and as far as I am aware, borders and transport are open if they wish to do so now.”
