MANILA— Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has ordered the voluntary repatriation of more than 4,100 Filipinos in three areas in Syria hit by anti-government protests.

Del Rosario made the order following an assessment made on the political situation in the Arab country and the condition of the Filipino workers in Daraa, Latakia, and Homs.

He instructed the Philippine Embassy in Damascus to check on and ask some 110 Filipinos in Daraa, 2,400 Filipinos in Latakia, and 1,600 Filipinos in Homs if they wish to be repatriated.

On Friday, when Del Rosario visited Syria, protests in certain areas in Syria ended in violence, particularly in Daraa, Latakia, and Homs.

However, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Muallem told Del Rosario that the Syrian government would do its best to restore political security and stability in the country, where about 17,000 Filipinos are based as migrant workers.

Muallem assured Del Rosario that the current political realities in Syria were “different from the one being painted by Western media.” Both foreign ministers also discussed aspects of bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and Syria.

Del Rosario left for Syria early Friday morning with Undersecretary Rafael Seguis.

DFA order voluntary repatriation of about 4,100 Filipinos in Syria

MANILA— Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has ordered the voluntary repatriation of more than 4,100 Filipinos in three areas in Syria hit by anti-government protests.

Del Rosario made the order following an assessment made on the political situation in the Arab country and the condition of the Filipino workers in Daraa, Latakia, and Homs.

He instructed the Philippine Embassy in Damascus to check on and ask some 110 Filipinos in Daraa, 2,400 Filipinos in Latakia, and 1,600 Filipinos in Homs if they wish to be repatriated.

On Friday, when Del Rosario visited Syria, protests in certain areas in Syria ended in violence, particularly in Daraa, Latakia, and Homs.

However, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Muallem told Del Rosario that the Syrian government would do its best to restore political security and stability in the country, where about 17,000 Filipinos are based as migrant workers.

Muallem assured Del Rosario that the current political realities in Syria were “different from the one being painted by Western media.” Both foreign ministers also discussed aspects of bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and Syria.

Del Rosario left for Syria early Friday morning with Undersecretary Rafael Seguis.