10 Filipinos in Syria seek shelter in Embassy amid conflict

The Philippine Embassy in Damascus on Monday said that they are temporarily housing ten Filipinos amid the reported fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

“May mga sampu na nakisilong dito sa Embahada dahil na rin sa medyo kaguluhan kahapon, naging balisa sila kaya sila’y humingi ng tulong sa amin para manirahan pansamantala dito sa Embahada. At sila naman po ay kinupkop namin dito,” Chargé d'Affaires John Reyes said in a Balitanghali interview.

(There are about ten people who sought shelter here at the Embassy because they became anxious due to the conflict yesterday, so they asked for our help to temporarily live here at the Embassy. We welcomed them here.)

According to Reyes, a total of 703 Filipinos are in Syria—many of them are working in Damascus, while some already have Syrian spouses.

He said all of them are in a good situation and none have expressed intention so far to get evacuated.

“Sila naman ay ligtas at nasa mabuting kalagayan (they are safe and in good condition),” Reyes said.

“May panaka-naka nalang [ang kaguluhan] pero kumpara sa nangyari kahapon, parang humupa na ang pangkalahatang sitwasyon,” he added.

(The fighting has quite eased as compared to the situation yesterday.)

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday advised Filipinos in Syria to maintain communication with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus amid the conflict there.

Filipinos in Syria may reach out to the Philippine Embassy in Damascus at 0949-155557, 0949-155567, or at pe.damascus@gmail.com.

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, based on a Reuters report,

Assad flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination earlier on Sunday.—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News