‘Pinoys’ situation in Korea normal’

MANILA, Philippines - The situation remains normal for Filipino workers in South Korea despite concerns over deployment of troops – including US forces – as well as aircraft and military equipment near the country’s border with North Korea, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said yesterday.

“The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Seoul, which is constantly monitoring the conditions in the region, reports a calm and normal situation in South Korea,” Baldoz said.

She said POLO is closely coordinating with the Filipino community in South Korea and is prepared for any eventuality.

Pyongyang declared a state of war on Saturday with South Korea following the latter’s holding of military exercises with the US.

 The communist North Korea even threatened nuclear attacks on its more prosperous neighbor and the US, which had already deployed nuclear capable bombers in the region.

On Monday, the US military announced that it had sent stealth fighters to South Korea but stressed the move was part of the ongoing military exercise.

The Philippines was one of the nations that supported a United Nations Security Council Resolution on March 8 condemning Pyongyang’s nuclear test the previous month.

The Philippine embassy is advising Filipinos in South Korea – particularly the newcomers – to be on “heightened awareness” as tensions in the Korean peninsula remain.

“Amidst the reports of a normal situation in South Korea, our POLO in the region is working closely with the embassy under one-country-team approach and would never let its guard down,” Baldoz pointed out.

On standby to help in possible evacuation of Filipinos are two of the Air Force’s three C-130 cargo planes, Air Force spokesman Col. Miguel Okol said.

“Just in case our commander-in-chief or our government requires it, the planes are operational and they will be ready to assist,” he said. He said each C-130 plane is capable of carrying 80 to 100 passengers.

“The Philippine Air Force has contingency plans in place for the repatriation and evacuation of our countrymen in foreign lands,” Okol said.

“We will just finalize details like the air route, ground handling, other support systems plus DFA efforts to secure diplomatic clearance,” he added.

Okol said Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Lauro de la Cruz wants aircraft to be ready for deployment even if the situation in the Korean peninsula remains generally calm.

He said the last time a PAF aircraft was used to evacuate Filipinos was in 2003 in Myanmar.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said her agency is also ready to assist evacuees in case the situation in the region worsens.

“We can assist in tracing families and in trauma counseling,” Soliman said.

Full-blown war unlikely

 For South Korea’s top diplomat in the Philippines, a full-scale war between his country and North Korea is unlikely.

“All Korean people know very well and they have experienced that type of exchanges between North and South Korea,” Ambassador Lee Hyuk told The STAR.

He said he met yesterday morning with Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Theresa Lazaro to apprise the Philippine official of the situation in the Korean peninsula, including the condition of Filipino workers.

“Of course the tension is there but I think the possibility of armed conflict or that type of thing is not likely. That is why people living in South Korea, including the 40,000 Filipinos, continue to do their job. That is our assessment,” he said.

The ambassador said the situation should not discourage Filipinos from visiting his country.

“I think all diplomatic missions in South Korea know the situation very well. They are doing business as usual,” he said. “The Filipinos in South Korea are also doing their business and work as usual.”

Asked to comment on North Korea’s objection to the annual military exercise between South Korea and the US, the ambassador said the joint maneuver would continue.

“Of course we will continue with this annual joint military exercise because we are allies. We will continue,” he said.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez also said there were no indications that the tensions in the Korean peninsula would escalate into a full-fledged war. “Despite reports of threats of armed conflict, the overall situation remains calm and normal as life proceeds as usual without any disruption throughout South Korea,” he said.

Korean tourists as well as Filipinos arriving from South Korea also appeared unfazed by developments in the region.

“Nothing to worry, we don’t mind it and not even aware of the threat,” said tourist Jang Ik-joon upon arrival yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on an Asiana Airlines flight.

“The issue is nothing. Everyone there was enjoying as if nothing was happening. It seems nobody believes the North will make good its threat,” said a Filipino doctor returning to Manila with his family.

Air traffic between Manila and Seoul remains normal despite the North’s declaration of a state of war with South Korea.

“Every time the South Koreans and the Americans hold military drill, the North Koreans would immediately threaten the South with nuclear missile attack,” an airline official said.”

But for United Nationalist Alliance senatorial candidate Mitos Magsaysay, the government should prepare for the worst and come up with livelihood opportunities for Filipinos who might be forced to leave Korea in the event of armed hostilities.  â€“ With Pia Lee-Brago, Jose Rodel Clapano, Alexis Romero, Rainier Allan Ronda, Rudy Santos