Pinoys in Ukraine assured of gov’t assistance

MANILA, Philippines - The Departments of Foreign Affairs and Labor and Employment discussed with members of the Filipino community in Ukraine the need for preparedness and the importance of communication with the Philippine embassy in Moscow following the referendum in Crimea on Sunday where a majority of voters decided to leave Ukraine and join Russia. Philippine Ambassador to Russia Alejandro Mosquera, together with a team composed of personnel from the DFA and DOLE, met with more than 40 Ukraine-based Filipinos at Hotel Rus in downtown Kiev on Sunday. There are an estimated 198 Filipinos in Ukraine. The DFA-DOLE team assured full government assistance to Filipinos in Ukraine.

The team consisted of DFA Special Assistant Belinda Ante, Labor Attaché David Des Dicang and Third Secretary Jeffrey Angelo Valdez of the Philippine embassy in Moscow.

The Filipinos expressed their appreciation for the team’s visit and assured the ambassador of their full cooperation in mobilizing the community.

Labor and immigration concerns of Filipinos were also addressed by the team.

The DFA raised on March 4 crisis alert level 2 (restriction phase) for Ukraine amid growing tensions in the Crimea region, where additional Russian troops and armored vehicles had been deployed.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario raised crisis alert level 2 that advises Filipinos in Ukraine to restrict non-essential movement, avoid public places, closely monitor developments and prepare for possible evacuation.

The five-member Rapid Response Team composed of the DFA, Office of the President, DOLE and Philippine National Police personnel departed for Ukraine.

Ukraine had called on the United Nations Security Council to do everything possible to prevent military intervention by Russia.

The Philippines expressed its deep concern regarding developments in Ukraine and called on all parties to exercise restraint, not to escalate the use of force and follow obligations under international law.