The Catholic Church on Monday urged all overseas Filipino workers in Qatar to be vigilant amid an ongoing diplomatic crisis in the Middle East, and advised them to frequently monitor the situation.
Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines migrants ministry said OFWs should remain calm, closely monitor the situation, and coordinate with Philippine authorities.
“We are so worried about our OFWs but we are optimistic they will not be affected,” Santos said.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said that there are around 900,000 OFWs working in the Middle East..
“We also urge and pray that our OFWs will be always vigilant and always stay away from false and violent ideologies, denounce anything and anyone which propagates hate and destruction,” he said.
Santos said that he is praying that diplomatic ties and cooperation will return among the Gulf countries
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen and the Maldives broke relations with Qatar accusing it of supporting extremism.
The Arab nations said they would also suspend all air, sea and land transport with Qatar, a home to more than 130,000 Filipino workers.
“We are hoping that tension will ease, peace reigns conflict be solved, mutual understanding again be realized,” the bishop added.
“For Gulf countries know and accept that our OFWs come only for work as to help and improve the lives of their loved ones back home, not for any political nor ideological motives,” he added.
