Says agencies “will extend assistance, other support” to those who may be affected
(Eagle News) — The Palace on Tuesday admitted that the cutting of diplomatic ties of some Arab countries with Qatar “may have some ripple effects” on Overseas Filipino Workers.
In a statement read by Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, the Palace said “concerned government agencies are now looking at the matter.”
(The concerned government agencies) will extend assistance and other support to OFWS who may be affected” by the move of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain, the Palace said.
Asked if President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the immediate repatriation of OFWs there, Abella said: “We’ll have to wait (for) the (Department of Foreign Affairs) to come up with a statement.”
Diplomatic crisis
Saudi Arabia and several of its allies on Monday cut relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremism, in the biggest diplomatic crisis to have hit the region in years.
Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and the Maldives also severed ties with gas-rich Qatar, which Riyadh accused of supporting groups, including some backed by Iran, “that aim to destabilize the region.”
Riyadh said its measures were the result of “gross violations committed by authorities in Qatar.”
It accused Doha of harboring “terrorist and sectarian groups that aim to destabilize the region including the Muslim Brotherhood, Daesh (IS) and Al-Qaeda.”
Saudi Arabia also closed its borders with Qatar, effectively blocking food and other exports and prompting shoppers to flood Doha’s supermarkets.
The Gulf states have also ordered Qataris to leave within 14 days and banned their own citizens from traveling to the emirate.
Qatar denied any support for extremists and accused its neighbors of seeking to put the country under “guardianship.” (With a report from Agence France Presse)