“Based on new developments in Homs, we may need to go one step further and resort to a strategy of extraction,” said DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario.

 

DFA Spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez said this means the “removal of OFWs who need to be removed because of the security situation in that area”.

 

“From our visit to Damascus two weeks ago, we had anticipated a probable escalation of violence which resulted in our bringing in an additional team of negotiators to focus on mandatory repatriation,” del Rosario said.

 

With the new plan, del Rosario said the Rapid Response Team composed of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the DFA will be activated.

 

“So rather than reduce the operating teams, to help our distressed nationals, we are expanding to do what is necessary. We will, however, begin bringing back non-essential folks such as the families of embassy staff,” del Rosario said. 

 

Del Rosario added that as in the case of Libya, the Philippine embassy will continue to operate “for as long as we have OFWs that need help”.

 

“We have no plans for closing (the embassy)," he said.

 

Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) reported that 35 OFWs from Syria are set to arrive Wednesday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

 

They are the Filipinos who availed of the government’s mandatory repatriation program after the DFA raised crisis alert level 4 in December 2011.

 

The repatriates will arrive via Etihad Airways flight EY424.