PHL issues security alert for Pinoys in Syria amid US-led airstrikes

The Philippine government  has issued a security warning to the estimated 1,000 Filipino workers in Syria amid the ongoing missile strikes led by the United States, France, and the United Kingdom on the Syrian government’s chemical weapons facilities.

Since the strikes began at 4 a.m. (Syria time) Saturday, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato said the Philippine embassy has not received any requests for assistance from any of the estimated 500 Filipinos in Damascus and the other 500 in other parts of Syria.

Filipinos were strongly advised to remain indoors, exercise vigilance and caution, and to avoid unnecessary travel.

“The embassy has issued an advisory requesting our kababayans to stay in their homes until further advise,” Cato said in a statement on Saturday.

The remaining Filipinos in Syria are mostly spouses of Syrians and household service workers.

All personnel of the Philippine Embassy in Damascus led by Chargé d’Affaires Crescente Relacion, meanwhile, are safe and accounted for, he said.

Cato said the embassy has been contacting members of the Filipino community to check their condition.

“So far, the embassy has not received any reports of Filipino casualties in the attacks that appear to have targeted military installations in and around Damascus,” he said.

Cato said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will continue to monitor the situation in Syria and is prepared to provide assistance to affected Filipinos.

The Philippine Embassy had issued advisories to Filipinos as early as April 8 in anticipation of the military action against Syria following the alleged chemical attack in Douma and the mortar shelling of certain parts of Damascus in recent weeks.

US President Donald Trump said the strikes would not cease until the Syrian government stop its use of chemical weapons.

In a report to the Home Office in Manila, the embassy said at least three military installations in Damascus and several other areas in Syria were targeted in this morning’s missile attacks, including one located just a kilometer from the Philippine chancery.

“It was like New Year in Manila,” Charge d'Affaires Relacion said in describing the more or less one hour missile barrage.

There were 17,000 Filipinos in Syria when the civil war erupted in 2011.

Syria has remained under crisis alert level 4  since then, but hundreds of Filipino opted to stay.

Alert level 4 calls for the mandatory evacuation and total deployment ban. It is the highest security warning given by the Philippines on countries that pose security risks to Filipino travelers and workers due to armed conflict or disaster. —LBG, GMA News