Palace denies reports on ISIS abduction of OFWs in Syria

Malacañang on Monday denied reports that Filipinos were allegedly among those included in the most recent abductions by terror group ISIS in war-torn Syria.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, in a statement said they were informed by Chargé d’ Affaires Nestor Padalhin from Syria that there were Filipinos apprehended because of expired permits.

“According to Ambassador Nestor Padalhin, our Chargé d’ Affaíres in Syria, report of ISIS abduction is not true. [But] there are Filipinos apprehended because of expired Lqamas (permits) and the embassy and the legal counsel are assisting them to sort out the matter,” Lacierda said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine government’s repatriation program on Filipinos working in Syria continues.

Early last month, 31 overseas Filipino workers from Syria had been repatriated.

With the latest batch, the total number of Filipinos repatriated from Syria since the unrest started in 2011 is now at 5,668.