Alert Level 3 raised for Iraq; Filipinos urged to leave

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday announced that it has raised Alert Level 3 for Iraq because of the escalating violence in the country.

The DFA said that the alert level is raised over almost all areas in Iraq, except for the Kurdistan region, which remains under Alert Level 1.

"Kurdistan remains relatively calm," the DFA said.

Under Alert Level 3, Filipinos living in the areas affected by the conflict in a country are asked advised to seek repatriation.

"Filipinos in Iraq are enjoined to volunteer to return to the Philippines at government expense," the DFA said.

It added that it is already sending a rapid response team to Iraq to assist in the voluntary repatriation of the Filipinos.