(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that the embassy in Damascus was “closely monitoring” the situation in Syria, which was the subject of a United States missile attack.
In a phone interview over CNN Philippines, Assistant Secretary Charles Jose, DFA spokesperson, said the embassy was “in close coordination” with the Filipino community there to “ensure their safety.”
Jose said there are an estimated 1400 Filipinos in Syria, many of whom have married locals and have families there.
“Yes. May communication ang embassy with Filipinos through (Filipino community) leaders at I’m sure nagbigay na ng advice ang ating embassy kung anong mga hakbang ang dapat gawin ng mga kababayan natin dun para masigurado ang kanilang safety,” he said.
He said so far, what he can say was that the US airstrike was “directed” toward the Syrian airforce from where the chemical attack that killed more than 80 civilians, including babies, was launched.
He said it was “not aimed at civilian centers” where Filipinos live.
“Lahat ng ating embassy kabilang na ang sa Syria ay may contingency plans yan na handang ilunsad in case of an emergency. Minomonitor ng embassy ang situation and if warranted I’m sure may plano sila kung paano maligtas ang mga kababayan natin from perhaps a deteriorating situation,” he said.
The US Pentagon said that 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles had been fired at the Al Shayrat airfield at 8:40 p.m., eastern time, on Thursday.
The missiles were allegedly aimed at Syrian radar, fuel pumps, and jets, among others, in retaliation for what US administration officials said was Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s use of horrific weapons in the Syrian civil war.
The civil war began in Syria in 2011.