MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos in Iraq
are advised to evacuate the Gulf state as the Philippine Embassy has raised Alert Level 4, the highest crisis status.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Ed
Meñez confirmed that the alert level in Iraq has
been raised
as a result of the government's coordination meetings on the situation in the Middle East.
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According to the DFA website, Alert Level 4, which calls for evacuation or mandatory repatriation,
is issued "when there is
large-scale internal conflict or full-blown external attack."
In a live video on the Philippine Embassy in Iraq's Facebook page,
Chargé d’Affaires Jomar Sadie announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has directed several government agencies to implement the evacuation of Filipinos in the Gulf nation following tensions between the United States and Iran.
"The marching order for us is to conduct mandatory repatriation," Sadie said in a mix of Filipino and English.
Sadie reminded Filipino workers in Iraq to secure an exit visa and a ticket through their employers prior to the repatriation procedures.
For those who do not have employers, Sadie said they should coordinate with the embassy in Baghdad.
"If you do not have an employer or if you are a victim of human trafficking, call us so we can help you or go directly to the embassy," he said.
Filipinos requesting repatriation or any other form of
assistance may contact the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad through:
- Contact numbers: 07816066822 (
Jom) / 07516167838 (Jerome) / 07518764665 (Jobbi) / 07508105240 (Richard)
- E-mail: baghdad.pe@dfa.gov.ph / embaphilbaghdad.secretary1@gmail.com
- Facebook: Philippine Embassy in Iraq
Data from the Philippine Embassy lists 450 undocumented and 1,190 documented Filipinos in Iraq, more than half
are based in the Kurdistan region while
around 847 are based in the Baghdad area.
According to
Meñez, many of the Filipinos in the Baghdad area work with United States and other foreign facilities.
Iranian state media on Wednesday reported that Iran launched a missile attack on an Iraqi
bases where US forces
are based.
State-run
PressTV reported that "tens of missiles" hit the Ain
al-Assad base and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards promised "more crushing responses" in case of further attacks from the US.