Security contractor helps fellow OFWs flee Afghanistan

As Taliban forces took control over Afghanistan, a Filipino private security contractor helped fellow overseas Filipino workers looking to leave the area. According to Raffy Tima and JP Soriano’s joint report on “24 Oras,” Elmer Presa shared that he went around despite his fear to rescue others. “Hindi ko po inexpect na pagbalik ko nung e-extraction ko sila ay napakadami ng Taliban doon. So nagpakilala po ako na may kukunin po akong tao,” Presa said. “So nagpakilala po ako na may kukunin po akong tao, sa salita po nila with combination of English, ang sabi lang po sa akin… okay, lakad ka lang, walang problema,” he added. In a video taken by Presa, lines of private security contractors could be seen leaving the compound with their bags. “Napakarami po ng mga Taliban na palakad-lakad and purposely ang layunin po ay ma export po kami, makalampas doon sa military airport,” he said. He said the situation got better at the airport. A few hours later they were then told to board a C17 military transport plane of the US Airport. It was there that he saw thousands of Afghan refugees, many of which were children, women, and senior citizens. “Siguro, more or less, nasa mahigit po na ano mga 300,000 individuals or more. Sama sama po kami doon, matatanda, bata,” he said. At present, Presa is at Doha, Qatar, waiting for a commercial flight back to the Philippines. —Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News

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