PNoy orders agencies to plan for safety of Pinoys in Egypt

(Updated 4:47 p.m.) Amid the civil unrest in Egypt, President Benigno Aquino III ordered four government agencies Saturday to meet and draw up possible measures to protect some 6,500 Filipinos living there. Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said Aquino is also constantly monitoring developments in the troubled Middle East country, especially after the political situation there worsened Friday night. An Associated Press report said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak sacked his government in the wake of violent protests that demanded his resignation. Protesters battled cops with stones and firebombs, burning down the ruling party headquarters and defying a night curfew enforced by the army. Eight people have reportedly been killed in violent riots. “Inatasan ni Pangulong Aquino ang Presidential Management Staff, ang Department of National Defense, ang Department of Foreign Affairs, at ang Department of Labor and Employment na magpulong ngayong araw na ito para mag-agree to discuss and make recommendations on measures to be taken given the situation in Egypt right now," she said on government-run dzRB radio. (Aquino ordered the PMS, DND, DFA and DOLE to meet and draw up recommendations given the situation in Egypt right now.)
Earlier, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang said there are 6,569 Filipinos now in Egypt. Of the number, Valte said, around 3,000 are overseas contract workers while 1,000 are students. The rest are “unspecified," she said. “I assume they are working but in what capacity 'di natin matukoy (we cannot be sure)," she said of the "unspecified" Filipinos. She said Carandang managed to get through to Philippine officials in Egypt despite the breakdown of many of the telecommunications, mobile and Internet services there. Carandang managed to get an assurance from officials there that they are prepared to give assistance to Filipinos if the situation escalates, she added. Valte also said the Philippines has set up at least three evacuation centers in Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt, “para sa relocation kung kailangan (for relocation if necessary)." Undocumented OFWs assured Valte also assured families of undocumented Filipino workers in Egypt that the Philippine government will assist them as well. “Hindi pwedeng 'di kasama ang undocumented, walang maiiwan, yan ang ina-assure natin ... We will exert efforts to cover all 6,500, down to the last Filipino, walang maiiwan (We will not allow the undocumented Filipinos to be left unattended. No one will be left behind. That is our assurance. We will exert all efforts to cover all 6,500 Filipinos, down to the last Filipino. No one will be left behind)," she said. Moreover, she reiterated the government’s advice to avoid going to public places, especially where riots are taking place. DFA contingency measures The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement that the Philippine Embassy in Egypt is closely monitoring development on the protest actions there, and has readied contingency measures should the situation deteriorate. Philippine Charge d'Affaires Eduardo Pablo Maglaya said that apart from the Crisis Management Center at the Embassy chancery, they have established a 24-hour shift of duty officers to ensure immediate access to the Embassy by members of the Filipino community, and to be able to respond to rapid developments. "The Embassy has also issued an advisory to the leaders and members of the Filipino communities in the area, and advised them to stay indoors, steer clear of public places — especially sites of mass protest — and avoid involvement in political actions. We are in constant communication with the Filipinos here," Maglaya said. "The Philippines also calls on all parties to maintain calm and exercise restraint. It expresses the hope that violence will not escalate, and for an early resolution of the crisis," the DFA added. According to the DFA, there are some 6,569 Filipinos in Egypt, mostly in Cairo and Alexandria, including professionals and about 1,674 students enrolled in Cairo's universities. The Embassy received reports that so far there are no foreign nationals who have been hurt in the demonstrations. Interviewed separately on GMA News' Balitanghali, Foreign Affairs assistant secretary Eduardo Malaya confirmed that a crisis management committee has been set up there, but there is no need yet for evacuations. According to him, pockets of violence happened only in few areas far from where Filipinos are staying. He added there is no ban yet on the deployment of Filipino workers to Egypt. — With Jerrie M. Abella/LBG/JV, GMANews.TV