Malacañang ask Filipinos in Syria to heed the call for mandatory repatriation
Malacanang reiterated its appeal to over 4,000 Filipinos who are still in Syria to heed the government’s call for mandatory repatriation in the wake of the reported escalating violence there, a Palace official said.
During the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued the appeal following reports that many Filipinos still refused to leave Syria.
The Philippine Embassy in Damascus reported that the capital remains on high alert following the back-to-back car bombings there on December 23, according to the Department of Foreign Afffairs (DFA).
"We would like ask the Filipinos in Syria- whether they are documented or undocumented to heed the appeal of the Philippine government. The DFA Secretery Albert F. del Rosario is there right now and we would like to ask them to cooperate for their own safety. We want to make sure that all Filipinos be accounted for," Lacierda said.
Lacierda said Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario flew to Syria to lead Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials to convince the Filipinos to have themselves repatriated to Manila at government’s expense.
"It shows that this government is serious in making sure the safety of all Filipinos. All these are paramount in our agenda with respect to OFWs (Overseas Filipinos Workers) in Syria," Lacierda said.
The Philippines has so far repatriated 434 Filipinos back to Manila since the start of the political crisis in Syria in March. Of this number, 349 were repatriated after the Philippine government called for their voluntary repatriation in August. (PCOO)
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President Aquino will continue to focus on programs to uplift lives, improve economy in 2012
Malacanang assured the Filipino people that President Benigno S. Aquino III will continue to focus on programs that will not only uplift their lives but also further improve the country’s economy, stressing the government’s unwavering efforts to curb graft and corruption in the bureaucracy.
During his first media briefing for the New Year 2012 in Malacanang, Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda reassured the President’s commitment to the people as previously stated in his yearend message issued last week.
“The President is continuously focusing on improving the economy as he has stated in his yearend message, we will improve the economy, we will continue to provide service to the poor, our advocacy against graft and corruption will still continue,” Lacierda said.
On concerns that the impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona will affect the Chief Executive’s focus in the performance of his job, Lacierda assured that such Constitutional procedure will not, in any way, impinge on President Aquino’s efforts to serve the country and the people.
“Primarily the impeachment has now been diverted to the Senate… and the Senate will be the main focus of the impeachment trial,” Lacierda said.
“The impeachment (proceedings) will not be a distraction for the President… not at all,” he added.
On December 12, 2011, a total of 188 members of the House of Representatives signed the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Corona, which was later transmitted to the Philippine Senate. (PCOO)
Malacanang reiterated its appeal to over 4,000 Filipinos who are still in Syria to heed the government’s call for mandatory repatriation in the wake of the reported escalating violence there, a Palace official said.
During the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued the appeal following reports that many Filipinos still refused to leave Syria.
The Philippine Embassy in Damascus reported that the capital remains on high alert following the back-to-back car bombings there on December 23, according to the Department of Foreign Afffairs (DFA).
"We would like ask the Filipinos in Syria- whether they are documented or undocumented to heed the appeal of the Philippine government. The DFA Secretery Albert F. del Rosario is there right now and we would like to ask them to cooperate for their own safety. We want to make sure that all Filipinos be accounted for," Lacierda said.
Lacierda said Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario flew to Syria to lead Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials to convince the Filipinos to have themselves repatriated to Manila at government’s expense.
"It shows that this government is serious in making sure the safety of all Filipinos. All these are paramount in our agenda with respect to OFWs (Overseas Filipinos Workers) in Syria," Lacierda said.
The Philippines has so far repatriated 434 Filipinos back to Manila since the start of the political crisis in Syria in March. Of this number, 349 were repatriated after the Philippine government called for their voluntary repatriation in August. (PCOO)
.
President Aquino will continue to focus on programs to uplift lives, improve economy in 2012
Malacanang assured the Filipino people that President Benigno S. Aquino III will continue to focus on programs that will not only uplift their lives but also further improve the country’s economy, stressing the government’s unwavering efforts to curb graft and corruption in the bureaucracy.
During his first media briefing for the New Year 2012 in Malacanang, Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda reassured the President’s commitment to the people as previously stated in his yearend message issued last week.
“The President is continuously focusing on improving the economy as he has stated in his yearend message, we will improve the economy, we will continue to provide service to the poor, our advocacy against graft and corruption will still continue,” Lacierda said.
On concerns that the impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona will affect the Chief Executive’s focus in the performance of his job, Lacierda assured that such Constitutional procedure will not, in any way, impinge on President Aquino’s efforts to serve the country and the people.
“Primarily the impeachment has now been diverted to the Senate… and the Senate will be the main focus of the impeachment trial,” Lacierda said.
“The impeachment (proceedings) will not be a distraction for the President… not at all,” he added.
On December 12, 2011, a total of 188 members of the House of Representatives signed the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Corona, which was later transmitted to the Philippine Senate. (PCOO)
