PH ready to repatriate Filipinos in Myanmar following coup

Presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque. YANCY LIM / PRESIDENTIAL FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has put on standby all assets to prepare the possible repatriation of Filipinos in Myanmar after its military took control of the country in an apparent coup, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque refused to comment on the “internal” matters of Myanmar, but stressed that the government’s top priority at the moment is to ensure the safety of Filipinos there.

“Kung gusto pong umuwi ng ilang mga Pilipino, gagawan po natin ng paraan na sila ay makauwi…Bagamat ang pangyayari po sa Myanmar ay internal at hindi po natin pinaghihimasukan, ang importante po yung kaligtasan ng ating mga mamamayan dyan sa Myanmar,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(If some Filipinos want to go home, we will do whatever it takes to repatriate them. Although the events in Myanmar is internal and we won’t interfere in that, what’s important is the safety of our fellowmen in Myanmar.)

“Naka-standby naman po ang ating hukbong sandatahan kung kinakailangan ma-airlift o kaya ang mga bapor ng Philippine Navy, kung kinakailangan pauwiin yung mga Pilipinong nandyan sa Myanmar.

(Our armed forces assets and the Philippine Navy’s ships are on standby if we need to repatriate the Filipinos in Myanmar.)

Myanmar’s military declared a state of emergency for a year after it detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior government officials.

This, after Myanmar’s military said a “stability” of the state was needed after alleged irregularities in the November election won by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democratic party.

JPV