Philippines sends envoy to Syria to aid repatriation

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is sending a diplomat to Syria to help repatriate Filipino workers affected by rising violence there.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said Ricardo Endaya will be the new charge d’affaires in the Damascus embassy.

Endaya is a former ambassador to Iraq who oversaw the evacuation of Filipino workers there.

The migrant workers’ group Migrante-Middle East welcomed Tuesday’s announcement. It said the embassy has acted too slowly in repatriating Filipinos as Syrian forces crack down on protesters.

Two weeks ago the Philippines raised its alert level in Syria and urged 17,000 Filipinos there to voluntarily return home.

Hernandez said 420 have said they want to go home and 108 have received exit visas.