Filipinos still okay in Ukraine, says Palace

People light candles in memory of the victims of clashes between police and protesters in Ukraine, in Bucharest, Romania, Friday. AP

MANILA,Philippines—Malacañang on Saturday said the government is exerting efforts to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Ukraine amid a deep political crisis in which scores have been killed and hundreds injured earlier this week.

“Because of some of the events transpiring in Ukraine, particularly Kiev, the DFA has been monitoring the situation and making sure they are watching out for the welfare of Filipinos there,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said  on radio.
Valte added that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) continues to be on the lookout as the violence has claimed 77 lives.

The two sides in Ukraine are fighting over whether the nation of 46 million will have closer ties to the West or to Russia. The protests began in late November after President Viktor Yanukovych turned away from a long-anticipated deal for closer ties with the European Union.

Government has offered an early elections in a bid to stop the crisis, but protesters resisted and called for Yanukovych’s ouster. The Health Ministry put the death toll at 77 and some opposition figures said it’s even higher.

Valte, however said, there has not been any report of Filipinos in Ukraine being adversely affected or injured due to the crisis.

On Friday, the Ukraine government and opposition leaders reached a deal to end the political crisis and the bloody fighting, especially in Kiev.  With the Associated Press

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