PHL officials: Pinoys in Syria 'safe' amid tension

Amid ongoing protests there, Philippine officials in Syria reassured families of Filipinos based there that their loved ones are safe. Philippine ambassador to Syria Wilfredo Cuyugan also downplayed the tension there, saying the situation is not as grim as portrayed by some media outlets. “Unang una huwag sila mabahala kasi di totoo ang lahat na nakikita. Pangalawa, ang Pilipino rito well-coordinated. ... At number three, handa ang embassy in case kailangan. Nakahanda kami, di namin sila papabayaan," he said in an interview on the noontime television newscast “Balitanghali." Several pro-democracy protesters had been killed by security forces following protests across Syria. Activists coordinating the demonstrations said regular forces and gunman loyal to President Bashar al-Assad shot dead at least 88 civilians on Friday. Various groups had staged demonstrations demanding political freedoms and an end to corruption in the country of 20 million people. But Cuyugan said the situation is not as volatile as shown on some media outlets. “Malayong malayo po, kung tingnan ninyo ang video paulit-ulit po (The situation is not as grim as portrayed in some media outlets. If you look at some media reports, the video is just being played repeatedly)," Cuyugan said. — LBG, GMA News