DFA: No Filipino in Taiwan seeking repatriation yet

He said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had reached out to various government offices to ensure the security of the over 158,000 Filipinos on the island. (File photo: Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – No Filipino is seeking government help for repatriation in Taiwan as of yet, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday amid rising cross-strait tensions.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega reassured Filipino lawmakers and the public that contingency plans have long been in place in all places where there is high concentration of Filipino workers, including Taiwan.

“As far as the Filipinos are concerned, wala pa kaming nababalitaan na gustong umuwi o nababahala (we have yet to receive reports that a Filipino wants to go home or that they are worried),” de Vega said in a Laging Handa briefing.

He said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had reached out to various government offices to ensure the security of the over 158,000 Filipinos on the island.

“He has given a general order to always watch out for the safety and welfare of all OFWs, including in Taiwan,” he added.

“[T]hrough Malacañang and other offices, we wish to reassure everyone, including other countries and our partners –the Philippines is a peaceful country, wala tayong intent na gumawa ng (we don’t have the intention to conduct) offensive military actions, there is no need for anyone to make statements which would make it appear that our OFWs are being targeted,” de Vega said.

The reassurance came following the remarks of Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian last Monday, who claimed that the United States intends to take advantage of the new sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to interfere in the Taiwan Strait situation.

The Chinese diplomat then “advised” Manila to oppose “Taiwan independence” if it genuinely cares about the 150,000 Filipinos working there.