Over 500 Filipinos in tension-filled Syria have expressed interest in being repatriated to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday. At a news briefing, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said, "(In) Syria, we have 562 who have already signified their interest to be repatriated. We are now arranging for their immediate repatriation." Hernandez also said the Philippine government will send to Syria a 10-member rapid response team that will help out in the repatriation. The team will leave on Tuesday, he said. "This team was deployed by the Overseas Preparedness Response Team headed by Executive Secretary (Paquito Jr.) Ochoa," he said. In the meantime, Hernandez maintained the DFA will continue to assist Filipinos who want to be repatriated from Syria. "We're not stopping anything at all, the assistance will continue, all they have to do is contact the embassy and we will help them," he said. Hotline numbers Meanwhile, a DFA news release said relatives may call the following numbers:
From 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., they may call hotlines 834-4617 to 24, aside from the previous numbers 834-3245 and 834-3240. From 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., the numbers 834-3333 and 834-4997 are open to accept calls. Filipinos in Syria may call the Philippine Embassy in Damascus at the dedicated hotline numbers to seek assistance and information from the Embassy: +96311-6132626 +96311-2176214 +96399-0270464 Queries and request for assistance may also be sent via text at: +639275768621 +639158445546 Filipinos may also email their queries and concerns at dfa.repat@gmail.com or pe.damascus@gmail.com. "Resort to reason" According to a report of Reuters, Arab states told Syria on Sunday to "resort to reason" and end months of bloodshed after some of the most intense protests in Damascus since the start of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. Arab League foreign ministers also agreed to send Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby to Syria to push for political and economic reforms in the country ruled by Assad's family for 41 years. Their move came after Syria's closest ally Iran also said Damascus must listen to the "legitimate demands" of its people, adding, however, that any change in Syria's ruling system or a power vacuum in Damascus would be dangerous for the region. The United Nations says 2,200 people have been killed since Assad sent in tanks and troops to crush the demonstrations that erupted in March after the presidents of Tunisia and Egypt were toppled by popular protests. But despite growing international condemnation, the threat of more Western sanctions, and escalating economic pressures because of the impact on tourism and investment, Assad's rule shows no sign of imminent collapse. The Arab League council stressed "the importance of ending bloodshed and to resort to reason before it is too late". Syria warned residents of the capital on Saturday not to demonstrate, "for their safety." "The Interior Ministry calls on citizens not to respond to social Internet sites to participate in rallies or assemble in public squares in Damascus. This is for their safety," a statement by the ministry published on official media said. - VVP, GMA News 
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