5,443 Pinoys in Syria unregistered

MANILA, Philippines - Of the 10,000 Filipinos in Syria, only 4,557 are registered, and the rest are illegal and only 10 percent are willing to come home, the foreign affairs secretary said yesterday.

Upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Syria yesterday, Secretary Alberto del Rosario said he had overseen the evacuation of thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the strife-torn country.

“There were some 5,443 illegal Filipino workers in Syria and we have to buy their contract from their employers, immigration penalties and air fare before we can evacuate them back to our country,” he said.

“We are fully committed to ensure the safety and welfare of our beloved Filipino workers in Syria, that is why we are fielding more of our people to neighboring post for 24 hours to help in the processing and repatriation of our OFWs.”

Crisis alert level raised

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised the crisis alert level in Syria from level 3 to level 4 last Dec. 22, 2011.

In alert level 4, mandatory repatriation at government expense will be implemented.

Del Rosario has asked Filipinos in Syria to have themselves repatriated at government expense.

The Philippine embassy in Damascus reported that the capital remains on high alert and violence continues.