Bahrain PM promises safety of overseas workers

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported yesterday that Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa assured the Philippines and four other countries of the safety of their citizens amid the escalating violence in the area.

Philippine Ambassador Corazon Yap-Bahjin said Al Khalifa met with her and the ambassadors of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Thailand last Thursday.

She said the Prime Minister assured them that the Bahraini government respects the rights of all foreigners and will protect them.

Al Khalifa told the ambassadors that Bahrain invited foreigners to work in their country and appreciates their contribution to the Bahraini people.

Bahjin said there are no reports of any Filipino casualty in Bahrain that was placed under a state of emergency following days of anti-government protests.

“As of this time, the embassy team has not received any reports of Filipinos injured or dead due to the crackdown of protesters in the Pearl Roundabout,” Bahjin said.

She added that security forces are not singling out foreigners.

An embassy team went to the Awali Hotel where seven Filipinos were allegedly trapped. However, the team found the hotel empty.

Acting Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario ordered the deployment of augmentation teams to assist the Philippine embassy in Manama to ensure the safety of Filipinos there.

DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs executive director Ricardo Endaya and principal assistant Kristine Bautista left for Bahrain early Friday morning to assist the embassy in efforts to ensure the safety and serve the needs of Filipinos there.

Del Rosario said in a press briefing at the DFA on Thursday that the augmentation teams dispatched to Bahrain and Japan will revalidate the contingency plans in the two countries.

The team in Manama will also assess the situation there and the exit points identified.

In Bahrain, the embassy is operating 24/7 to address the concerns of Filipinos. It is in constant contact with Filipino community members, and the embassy officers and staff have disseminated their mobile numbers to them for immediate information and coordination.

The Bahraini government had imposed a 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew in areas where protests have been held. This was then shortened to 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.

The embassy earlier urged Filipinos to restrict their movements to the necessary, stock up on basic necessities, have important documents ready and avoid joining or being in areas of protest.

The embassy appealed to Filipinos in Bahrain to remain calm, actively monitor ongoing developments, keep their communications lines open with the embassy and their designated community coordinators, and inform the embassy or Filipino community coordinators assigned to their area of their whereabouts.

The embassy’s hotline numbers are: (973) 17721234, (973) 17740951 and (973) 17721908.

The DFA on Tuesday raised the alert in Bahrain from level 1 (heightened alertness) to level 2 (restriction of movements), in view of increased tensions in that country.

The DFA urged Filipinos in Bahrain to restrict their movements and also to voluntarily depart the country.

“There is yet no need to raise the alert level to 3 (voluntary repatriation), where the Philippine government will make available facilities for their repatriation,” Del Rosario said.

Since Feb. 17, the Philippine embassy in Manama has met with Filipino community members to brief them on the embassy’s contingency plans.

“We wish to assure the public that the contingency plans for Bahrain and Japan are updated and in place, and proactive measures have been undertaken,” Del Rosario added.

The DFA issued a travel advisory on Feb. 21 to defer non-urgent and non-essential travel to Bahrain.

Countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand have adopted similar measures.

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The United Nations Security Council on Thursday authorized all necessary measures to stop Moammar Gadhafi, including air strikes and sea assault, hours after the dictator vowed to launch a final assault and crush the weeks-old rebellion against him. – With Aurea Calica, Mayen Jaymalin