President Benigno S. Aquino III has joined other nations in calling for sobriety and an end to
the renewed tension between North and South Korea which exchanged artillery fire Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda echoed the President statement during a press
briefing where he assured families and relatives of Filipinos working and residing in both
countries that the government is closely monitoring the situation there.
The President, according to Lacierda has ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
and other agencies concerned with migrant workers to implement precautionary measures
to protect and ensure the safety of thousands of Filipino migrant workers in the Korean
Peninsula.
Lacierda said Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Louie Cruz has informed them
that there are no plans yet of evacuation but certain precautionary measures had been
undertaken.
DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban Conejos informed the President
that the DFA is prepared to evacuate all 60,000 Filipinos in South Korea if and when needed.
Lacierda noted that the constant tension in the Korean Peninsula that started with North
Korea’s nuclear testing two years ago prompted the Philippine government to draw up a
contingency plan that includes mobilizing an extensive network of Filipino community leaders
in dangerous situations.
He admitted that the Chief Executive is convening his security officials, which include the
National Security Council and the Department of National Defense this afternoon, to discuss
in the Cluster meeting the immediate possible response of the Philippine government to the
concerns of the Korean situation.
There are sixty thousand Filipino nationals in South Korea and only nine are working in North
Korea. Of the nine Filipino nationals, five are working for the United Nations, and four are
working for a foreign international tobacco company. (PCOO)