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THE government is ready to evacuate Filipino workers
from Lebanon if simmering violence between the US-backed Lebanese
government and Hezbollah-led protesters escalate into a full-blown
civil war, the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA)
said on Wednesday.
“We have learned from our
experience last year and we are better prepared to handle the
situation,” OWWA Administrator Marianito Roque said. “The
government is prepared in case the OFWs need to be repatriated.”
Labor and Employment Secretary
Arturo Brion also said that the labor and foreign affairs
departments are closely monitoring the situation of OFWs in Lebanon
after receiving reports of a new outbreak of violence.
OWWA Deputy Administrator Angelo
Jimenez, currently in Lebanon, reported that the situation there is
generally peaceful although the airport remains closed amid isolated
incidents of violence.
On Tuesday Hezbollah-led
protesters burned tires and cars and clashed with government
supporters, paralyzing Beirut and areas across Lebanon in the
pro-Iranian group’s campaign to topple US-backed Prime Minister
Fuad Saniora.
Jimenez said Hezbollah leader
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who called on a nationwide strike against
the government, guaranteed that he would not allow antigovernment
actions to lead to civil war.
Jimenez said embassy officials
are in close contact with the Filipino communities in Lebanon and
will keep tabs on the locations of nationals for a more organized
evacuation.
--William B. Depasupil
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