Locsin assures no harm will come to Filipinos in Ukraine

By: Neil Arwin Mercado - 3 years ago

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday ascertained that Filipinos in Ukraine will not be harmed amid escalating tension between the former Soviet republic and Russia.

Locsin said he is making calls to ensure a safe way out for Filipinos in Ukraine.

“Rest assured Filipinos in Ukraine will come to no harm; I will be on top of it personally. I’m done in Cambodia in 2 days; then ASEAN-EU in Paris by 19th. That’s close enough to Ukraine to effect their safe passage out,” Locsin said in a tweet.

@DFAPHL @dododulay Rest assured Filipinos in Ukraine will come to no harm; I will be on top of it personally. I'm done in Cambodia in 2 days; then ASEAN-EU in Paris by 19th. That's close enough to Ukraine to effect their safe passage out. Russian Belgograd & Kursk are closest;

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) February 16, 2022

“Russian Belgograd & Kursk are closest; from west—Poland, Hungary, Slovakia; south— Romania & Moldova border Ukraine but farther from Filipinos in Kyiv than Russian Kursk. Making calls now. Anybody feel like whining stay away from this,” he added.

According to Locsin, about 140 to 350 Filipinos are in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

“A good neighbor in Southeast Asia has 10,000. We each arrived at the brilliant idea of crossing our people to safety at the closest border—that of a superpower most friendly to both our countries,” Locsin said.

In a statement Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said they are in close coordination with their foreign service posts in the region on arrangements to bring home the Filipinos in Ukraine who may wish to return to the Philippines.

“We urge Filipinos in Ukraine to keep communication lines with the Philippine Embassy in Poland open, and wait for updates, bulletins, and safety instructions,” the DFA said.

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KGA