Government urges Pinoys in Bahrain to restrict movements

MANILA, Philippines -  The government has advised Filipinos in Bahrain to restrict their movements after troops from neighboring United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia moved in to help Bahrain quell anti-government protests.

Speaking to reporters, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said embassy staff in Manama had been in contact with Filipino community leaders there and briefed them on contingency plans.

“We are hopeful the political situation will stabilize, but precautionary measures are in place,” he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised the alert level in Bahrain from level 1 (heightened alertness) to level 2 (restriction of movement).

“The DFA has raised the alert level to alert level 2. By this, we are asking our nationals to restrict their movements to those which are necessary, and to voluntarily depart Bahrain.”

It is not yet necessary to raise the level to alert level 3 (voluntary repatriation), Seguis said.

Last Feb. 21, the DFA issued a travel advisory to defer non-urgent and non-essential travel to Bahrain.

Countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand have adopted similar measures.

Seguis assured the public that the embassy’s contingency plan in Bahrain is updated and in place, and proactive measures are undertaken, including the conduct of meetings with the Filipino community leaders and members to brief them of the contingency plans.

The embassy in Bahrain has been closely monitoring developments in the country, and has met with the Filipino community leaders in the country as early as Feb. 17 to orient them on the embassy’s contingency plans.

Ambassador Corazon Yap-Bahjin released an advisory to Filipinos on that same day to ask them to remain calm, actively monitor developments, keep their communication lines open with the embassy and their designated community coordinators, and inform the embassy or Filipino community coordinators of their whereabouts.

The advisory also said that Filipinos should refrain from going outdoors unless necessary; stock at least a two-week supply of food and water as well as medicines, flashlights, candles, mobile phones and radios; make sure that important documents such as passports and driver’s licenses are readily available; and be sensitive to local culture, customs and traditions, and religious beliefs in Bahrain, as well as avoid making comments or actions that may be considered politically sensitive.