DFA: No Pinoys hurt in Egypt riots

abs-cbnNEWS.com


MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – No Filipinos have been hurt in the riots that broke out against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, ABS-CBN News Channel reported Saturday.

“There are no reports that anyone of them has been hurt during the course of the protest actions that have been taking place,” said Foreign Affairs Spokesman Ed Malaya.

Malaya said the Philippine Embassy in Egypt has already advised Filipinos to stay away from ongoing protests.

He added that communication remains difficult as Internet connection and telephone services in the area have yet to be restored.

“Our Charge d'Affairs there informed the DFA that they have activated a crisis management center at the embassy. We now run a 24-hour shift of duty officers and that he has issued an advisory to community leaders and community members to stay home and for them to stay clear of public places where the protests are taking place,” he said.

‘Bare contingency plans’

Meanwhile, the palace said the embassy has prepared contingency measures in case the situation worsens.

President Benigno Aquino III is also closely monitoring developments there. The DFA however sees no need to move Filipino nationals or repatriate them at this time.

Migrante-Middle East Chapter earlier urged the government to bare its contingency plan for Filipinos caught in the middle of the riots in Egypt.

“The volatile political situation in Egypt marred by massive rallies staged by thousands of discontented Egyptian protesters demands a closer look and serious concerns on the part of the Aquino administration,” said John Leonard Monterona, the group’s regional coordinator.

Monterona said the government must send Special Envoy Roy Cimatu of the Presidential Middle East Preparedness Team to assess the political situation and secure the safety of thousands of Filipinos based in Egypt.

“We are urging the Aquino administration to bare its contingency plan for OFWs in Egypt, if there is any, as the political situation in Egypt had already escalated,” Monterona said.

The DFA said there are some 6,569 Filipinos in Egypt, mostly in Cairo and Alexandria, but are far from the venue of demonstrations.

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