EVENTS AN ‘INTERNAL MATTER’

Philippines ready to repatriate Filipinos from Myanmar if needed

Air and sea assets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are on standby to fetch Filipinos in Myanmar who wish to be repatriated due to the political turmoil in the former British colony, Malacañang said Monday.

Speaking at a news conference, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government’s primary objective is to ensure the safety of over 1,200 Filipinos in Myanmar.

“Gumagalaw po ngayon ang ating embahada sa Myanmar para magbigay ng tulong sa lahat ng mga Pilipino. Kung gusto pong umuwi ng ilang mga Pilipino, gagawan po natin ng paraan para sila ay makauwi, kung gusto po nilang temporary shelter diyan sa ating embassy, maghahanap po tayo ng mga paraan,” said Roque.

“At naka-standby naman po ang ating Hukbong Sandatahan kung kinakailangan na ma-airlift or kaya [gamitin] ang mga bapor ng ating Philippine Navy kung kinakailangan na pauwiin ang mga Pilipinong nandiyan sa Myanmar.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is in touch with the Filipino community amid the political unrest in the Southeast Asian country where the military declared that it has taken control of the government.

Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other officials have been detained as the military insisted on its claim of vote fraud in last November’s election that Suu Kyi’s party won decisively, reports said. The military also declared a one-year state of emergency after seizing power.

The United Nations and the United States have condemned the detention of Suu Kyi and other political leaders while Singapore expressed “grave” concern about the latest situation in Myanmar.

The Philippines, however, declined to comment on the political unrest, calling it an “internal” matter of Myanmar.

“Inaasahan po natin na sa lalong mabilis na panahon sana po bumalik sa normal iyan bagama’t ang pangyayari po sa Myanmar ay isang bagay na internal at hindi po natin pinanghihimasukan,” Roque said.

The Philippines, Singapore, and Myanmar are part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), whose members adopted the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. — DVM, GMA News