MANILA, Philippines – The deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to tension-gripped Hong Kong will continue, said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who described the situation in the special administrative region of China as stable.
“In the meantime wala muna (deployment ban). No cause for alarm, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang deployment,” Bello said in a weekly press forum on Wednesday.
“Very stable ang situation so continuous ang deployment pa rin,” he added.
Bello said the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) would continue monitoring the situation in Hong Kong.
“Yung worry na baka mag-issue kami ng deployment ban eh, medyo far-fetched pa yan pero we are continuously monitoring the situation of Hong Kong,” he said.
“Depende sa advise ng DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) because it’s the DFA that’s in a better position to determine when to raise the alert level, pag umabot yan ng 3, ‘yan magmi-meeting governing board ng POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) and they may declare a deployment ban,” he added.
OFW freed
Meanwhile, Bello said the Filipino who was detained after Hong Kong police arrested him for alleged participation in a protest in Mong Kok over the weekend has been bailed out.
“Yung Pilipino na nahuli…fortunately late last night or even earlier, na-bail out na siya for 2,000 Hong Kong dollars,” he said.
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Bello reiterated the Philippine government’s reminder to Filipinos in Hong Kong to avoid areas where protests are being held.
Over the past two months, some streets in Hong Kong have been the site of massive pro-democracy protests calling for the withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill, among others.
READ: HK leader says city on brink as protesters unleash travel chaos
Hong Kong authorities have arrested more than 20 people for unlawful assembly and assault after confrontations between protesters and law enforcement authorities.
READ: Hong Kong police arrest over 20 protesters in new scuffles