Pinoys in Venezuela told: Prepare for evacuation

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised the crisis alert level for Venezuela due to the ongoing conflict in the South American country.

The DFA said Venezuela is now under alert level 2 or restriction phase, which is issued when there are real threats to the life, security and property of Filipinos arising from internal disturbance or external threat.

"Filipinos in the area are advised to limit non-essential movements, to avoid public places, and to prepare for possible evacuation," the DFA said in a statement.

Under alert level 2, the Department of Labor and Employment only allows overseas Filipino workers with existing contracts to return to their host country.

The DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Mexico, which has jurisdiction over Venezuela, has already dispatched a consular officer to the capital city of Caracas.

The officer will provide ground assessment and assist the estimated 104 Filipino nationals in Venezuela.

Venezuelans fed up with food shortages and violence that the government has failed to address have been staging nearly daily street protests since mid-February, snarling traffic with barricades of garbage, furniture and burning tires.

At least 21 people have been killed in related violence, by government count, in the country's worst unrest in years. -with AP