THE Philippine government has warned the estimated 1,000 Filipino workers in Syria amid the ongoing missile strikes led by the United States, France, and the United Kingdom on the Syrian government’s chemical weapons facilities.
Since the strikes began at 4 a.m. (Syria time) Saturday, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato said the Philippine embassy had not received any requests for assistance from any of the estimated 500 Filipinos in Damascus and the other 500 in other parts of Syria.
Filipinos were strongly advised to remain indoors, exercise vigilance and caution, and to avoid unnecessary travel.
“The embassy has issued an advisory requesting our kababayans to stay in their homes until further advise (sic),” Cato said in a statement on Saturday.
All personnel of the Philippine Embassy in Damascus led by Chargé d’Affaires Crescente Relacion, meanwhile, are safe and accounted for, he said.
Meanwhile, opposition and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin raised the possibility of thousands of undocumented Filipinos working in Syria.
“While the embassy reports that no requests for assistance have been made, it is a fact that there are thousands of undocumented Filipinos working in Syria,” Villarin said.
“The escalation in the conflict with the military intervention of other countries definitely impacts on the lives of our countrymen now in harms way.”
Villarin also said many were women and vulnerable to possible increased levels of abuse especially during conflict situations.
“Locating and gathering these workers and putting them in a safe place is not just difficult but dangerous to both the rescuers and those to be rescued,” he said.
Villarin also urged the embassy to undertake pre-emptive measures and not wait for the problem to escalate.
“Exit visas and a waiver of all necessary departure requirements must be requested now from the Syrian government,” Villarin said.