Manila, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay asked all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) yesterday to immediately leave Syria amid the rising tension in this country.
Binay, the presidential adviser on OFWs concerns, called on all OFWs in Syria to coordinate immediately with the Philippine embassy in Damascus for their repatriation.
“I am asking all OFWs not to stay in Syria. Your safety is more important than whatever earnings you will get from there. Your lives are important and the government is ready to help you return to our country,” Binay said.
Violence in Syria escalated after rebels bombed Damascus, killing three senior military officials close to President Bashar al-Assad.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) there are about 9,000 Filipinos who were based in critical areas such as Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Daraa and Idib.
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFAO) meanwhile reported that around 24,004 Filipinos were working in Syria since 2010, with 100 of them entering each month despite the government deployment ban.
Of this, 10,000 were undocumented or irregular, entering the country through illegal means, Binay said.
Binay noted that the government has already filed 29 illegal recruitment cases against agencies and persons recruiting Filipinos to work in Syria.
Fourteen show-cause orders have also been filed against Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel for their alleged involvement in the illegal smuggling of Filipinos.
Binay added that the Philippine embassy in Damascus may be reached through phones at (011) 611 5893 for local calls, and +963-11613-266 or +963.11.611.5893 for international calls, and through email atpe.damascus@dfa.gov.ph. Filipinos in Syria may also contact the Philippine honorary consulate in Aleppo at +963-21-5110-220/5120-220 or at infor@phcaleppo.org.