Filipinos in Syria are being urged to exercise caution and avoid areas with potential risks of harm amid escalating violence, following reports of Syrian rebels sweeping into Damascus and declaring the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.
Assad’s whereabouts remain unknown after he reportedly fled the country on Sunday.
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac in a radio broadcast advised Filipinos to remain in close contact with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus as the conflict intensifies.
Cacdac assured stakeholders the DMW is coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to provide assistance, and is open to extending it even to Filipinos married to Syrian nationals.
The DFA announced on Sunday that it is closely monitoring developments in Syria and urged Filipinos to stay vigilant and take extra precautions.
DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza revealed that as of December 2023, there are approximately 703 Filipinos in Syria.
The country remains classified under Alert Level 4, indicating a need for heightened safety measures.