DFA cautions over 700 Pinoys in Syria amid fall of Al-Assad regime

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor, Philippine News Agency

FILE: The Department of Foreign Affairs Building along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, which used to be the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank. (Photo By Lawrence Ruiz, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has advised Filipinos in Syria to take precautions amid the end of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime as rebels claimed control of capital Damascus.

“We express concern regarding the situation of our Filipinos in Syria and advise them to take the necessary precautions and stay in contact with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus,” the DFA said in a statement Sunday.

The DFA said it continues to monitor ongoing developments in the Middle Eastern nation where there are about 703 Filipinos.

“The Philippines calls on all concerned parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further violence, to avert further casualties and deaths of civilians,” it said.

Earlier, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said Alert Level 4 or mandatory repatriation remains in Syria.

Syrian rebels toppled Al-Assad’s government after more than 13 years of civil war, capturing the capital.

Al-Assad fled to Moscow, Russia where he was given asylum.