Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 16)— The country’s top diplomat on Wednesday assured that Filipinos in Ukraine will remain safe amid the threat of a Russian invasion of the former Soviet state.
“Rest assured Filipinos in Ukraine will come to no harm; I will be on top of it personally,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. said in a tweet.
Locsin said he was also reaching out to countries near Ukraine to ensure the safe passage of Filipinos if needed.
“From west — Poland, Hungary, Slovakia; south — Romania and Moldova border… Making calls now,” he added. “It will be a land journey to the closest border.”
On Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said officials were working out arrangements for Ukraine-based Filipinos who may wish to return home or move to safer grounds amid the brewing tensions.
No further details about the repatriation were provided as of publishing.
RELATED: Filipinos in Ukraine fear repatriation, losing jobs amid possible Russian invasion
The United States had warned that an attack on Ukraine could begin soon, as it expressed concern over the amassing of Russian troops along their common border.
The Russian Defense Ministry said some of its troops began returning to their bases following recent drills, but US President Joe Biden said they have “not yet verified” the report.
READ: Biden says US ready to give ‘diplomacy every chance to succeed’ in defusing Russia-Ukraine crisis
Foreign Affairs Sec. Teddy Locsin @teddyboylocsin assures that Filipinos in Ukraine will not be harmed amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
He says he's reaching out to countries with common borders with Ukraine to ensure safe passage | @TristanNodalo https://t.co/0gTck0mfJq
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) February 16, 2022
