MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has issued a warning to the more than 700 Filipinos residing in Syria, urging them to be vigilant as the regime of President Bashar al-Assad crumbles with rebels seizing control of Damascus.
The DFA expressed deep concern for the safety of Filipinos in the region and recommended that they remain in close communication with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus. ‘We urge our nationals in Syria to take all necessary precautions,’ the DFA stated in a recent announcement.
The agency is closely watching the evolving situation in Syria, where approximately 703 Filipinos are currently located.
The DFA also called for all parties involved in the conflict to show restraint and halt any further violence, emphasizing the need to prevent additional civilian casualties.
DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza previously noted that the alert level for Syria remains at Level 4, indicating mandatory repatriation.
The fall of Al-Assad’s government came after over a decade of civil war, culminating in the rebels’ takeover of the capital.
Following the collapse, President Al-Assad sought and was granted asylum in Moscow, Russia.