Malacañang keeps eye on Syria, hopes for less tension in Libya

Even as it voiced hopes the situation in Libya will calm down, Malacañang is closely monitoring the situation in Syria amid growing tension there due to persistent anti-government protests that have already claimed lives. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte on Saturday said the Palace expects the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to draw up possible contingency plans for Filipinos in Syria. “We will have to coordinate with DFA kung ano ang naging hakbang due to the recent developments in Syria (We will have to coordinate with the DFA on what its plans are in the light of recent developments in Syria)," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. She did not elaborate, however. In Syria, anti-government demonstrators staged protests on Friday after their noon prayers despite government threats of arrest. On the other hand, Valte said the Philippine government is hoping for a good sign from the ceasefire called by Libya after the United Nations threatened military action to protect civilians. “I hope this is a good sign medyo di mag-escalate ang pangyayari doon. Nakikita natin lahat lalo ang kababayan nating may kamaganak na natira the situation has escalated nagsimula ng unang araw, sana magkaroon ng magandang development from the ceasefire," she said. (I hope this is a good sign that the situation there will not escalate anymore. We have seen how the situation in Libya was in past weeks. We hope good developments will come out of this ceasefire.) — LBG, GMA News