Metro Manila, Philippines— Filipinos in Bangladesh are safe amid the civil unrest in the South Asian country, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
“Violent protests have, dissipated in Dhaka,for almost a week now, its purveyors have shifted to mass rallies, which can turn violent anytime, depending on circumstances,” said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega citing a report from Philippine Ambassador to Dhaka Leo Ausan, in a text message to NewsWatch Plus.
De Vega said Filipinos are safe and have been advised to follow precautionary measures from the DFA, which raised the lowest alert level last week.
“Expatriates & OFWs are safe from these protests and rallies, so long as they heed the three point alert level one advisory,” De Vega said.
“Filipinos, in particular, are safe, as there are no perceptions of negativity specifically on them on the part of the protesters like being job competitors,” he added.
In an advisory last week, the DFA said that the security situation in Bangladesh may “deteriorate without warning.”
It called on Filipinos there to exercise precaution and restrict non-essential movement.
“Always be in possession of valid passports and residence visas and register with the Philippine embassy in Dhaka,” the DFA said.
Weeks of protests have rocked Bangladesh that led to the arrest of more than 10,00 people. A mass student movement opposing quotas for government jobs triggered the chaos.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country on Monday according to a Reuters report.
