DFA CAUTIONS PINOYS IN SYRIA AMID ASSAD REGIME’S FALL

DFA expressed concern over the situation of Filipinos in Syria following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad by the armed opposition (Photo courtesy of Delil Souleiman/ AFP)

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) advised Filipinos in Syria to take necessary precautions and stay in contact with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus after Syrian rebels declared President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster after seizing control of Damascus.

“We express concern regarding the situation of our Filipinos in Syria and advise them to take the necessary precautions and stay in contact with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus,” the DFA said in a statement.

“The Philippines calls on all concerned parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further violence, to avert further casualties and deaths of civilians,” it added.

According to the DFA, there are 703 Filipinos in Syria and so far, there have been no reports of Filipinos caught in the crossfire or efforts of repatriation. All Filipinos in Syria are in a good situation and none have expressed intention so far to get evacuated. 

But there are about ten Filipinos who sought shelter at the Embassy as they became anxious due to the conflict, and asked for help to temporarily live at the Embassy. 

DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said Alert Level 4 (mandatory repatriation) remains in Syria. Which entails mandatory repatriation at the Philippine government’s expense. 

Due to the escalating violence, the Philippines has maintained the crisis alert level since the outbreak of the civil war in 2011. “The DFA continues to monitor, with concern, ongoing developments in Syria.”

According to a Reuters report, Syrian rebels said they have ended Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule and are now continuing operations against "terrorist groups" in the towns of Hama and Homs and Deraa countryside.

A report said the Islamist rebels also dealt a major blow to the influence of Russia and Iran—allies who propped up Assad during critical periods in the conflict. The rebels said they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments. 

Thousands of people in cars and on foot congregated at a main square waving and chanting "Freedom" from a half century of Assad family rule. Syrian state television aired a video statement by a group of men saying that Assad has been overthrown and all detainees in jails have been set free.

The Philippine Embassy advised the Filipino community "to remain calm and secure by avoiding crowded places and unnecessary travels due to the heightened security developments and operations in Syria.”

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer 

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