3 Pinoys repatriated from troubled Syria

At least three Filipinos in Syria were repatriated by their employer amid the political tension there, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday. The DFA said the three Filipinos, employed by Siemens, left Daraa and left Damascus Thursday, but did not immediately give additional details. “Daraa is the city where most tensions and demonstrations are taking place," it noted in a news release posted early Saturday on the government portal. The DFA and the Philippine Embassy earlier urged Filipinos to voluntarily relocate or leave the country if they have no pressing need to stay. Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to Syria Wilfredo Cuyugan said the Philippine Embassy has activated a situation room to monitor developments there round the clock. “The Embassy is constantly monitoring the developments in Daraa and in other areas through its area coordinators, Filipino volunteers, and the 24 Syrian agencies accredited with the Embassy’s Labor Attache’s office," he said. Also monitoring the situation at the situation room are personnel of the Department of Labor and Employment and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) personnel. Last Tuesday, the DFA raised the crisis alert level in Syria to Level 2, which entails restriction of movements around said country, avoiding large crowds and areas of protest. Non-essential and non-urgent travel are discouraged, including travel for tourism purposes, and only returning workers are allowed to go back. “There are around 17,000 Filipinos in Syria, but are largely concentrated in the capital Damascus and Aleppo, where no significant anti-government demonstrations are taking place. There are around 110 Filipinos in Daraa," the DFA said. — LBG, GMA News