DFA to Pinoys in Syria: Stay in touch with embassy amid Assad regime’s fall

By MARIEL CELINE SERQUIÑA, GMA Integrated News

Published December 8, 2024 8:54pm

DFA urges Pinoys in Syria to keep in contact with embassy amid Assad developments

A Syrian Kurdish fighter flashes the V-sign for victory as local gunmen control the area around Qamishli's airport in northeastern Syria on December 8, 2024, following the fall of the capital Damascus to anti-government fighters. Delil Souleiman/ AFP

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday advised Filipinos in Syria to maintain communication with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus amid the reported fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

“We express concern regarding the situation of our Filipinos in Syria and advise them to take the necessary precautions and stay in contact with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus,” the DFA said in a statement.

“The Philippines calls on all concerned parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further violence, to avert further casualties and deaths of civilians,” it added.

Filipinos in Syria may reach out to the Philippine Embassy in Damascus at 0949-155557, 0949-155567, or at pe.damascus@gmail.com

DFA also said it continues to monitor the situation in Syria as rebels declared that Assad was overthrown and that they have seized control of Damascus.

According to a Reuters report, Syrian rebels said they have ended Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule and are now continuing operations against "terrorist groups" in the towns of Hama and Homs and Deraa countryside.

Assad flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination earlier on Sunday.

A separate Reuters report said the Islamist rebels also dealt a major blow to the influence of Russia and Iran—allies who propped up Assad during critical periods in the conflict.

The rebels said they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments. Thousands of people in cars and on foot congregated at a main square waving and chanting "Freedom" from a half century of Assad family rule, witnesses said.

People were seen walking inside the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace, with some leaving carrying furniture from inside. The rebels said prisoners had been freed from a large jail on the outskirts of Damascus where the Syrian government detained thousands.

"We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains," the rebels said. — with a report from Reuters/BM, GMA Integrated News

Tags: Department of Foreign Affairs, Syria, ofws in syria, Pinoys in Syria, basharalassad