Iraq situation still unstable – Palace

The situation in Iraq and neighboring countries remain “unstable” amid government’s efforts to bring Filipino workers to safer areas, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo gave the latest update on the repatriation efforts in the Middle East based on the information from the Cabinet-level committee.

"Per initial report of the Committee to Oversee the Repatriation of Filipinos in the Middle East, Secretary Roy Cimatu, Special Envoy to the Middle East, is now in Qatar implementing repatriation on the ground and constantly assessing the situation in Iran, Iraq, Libya and other neighboring states,” he said.

"The situation in the area is still unstable and our contingencies for massive repatriation are still in place,” he added.

The plan to evacuate Filipinos from Iraq has earlier been authorized by President Duterte in light of the tension between the United States and Iran.

A government committee led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has been formed to supervise the repatriation efforts.

So far, Panelo said the first batch of evacuees, numbering 14, is transported from Baghdad, Iraq to Doha, Qatar en route to Manila. He said the number of repatriated Filipinos may increase as the government continues to appeal to its nationals to go home.

He said the Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Gabriela Silang, currently stationed in Malta, is ready to sail anytime to nearby countries where Filipinos are in danger and to ferry them to safer areas.

The government is also monitoring the situation in Kuwait, which raised its security level to maximum, as well as in Tripoli, Libya, currently under Alert Level 4.

"We advise our kababayans in Iraq and in Tripoli, Libya to contact the nearest Philippine mission to facilitate their evacuation. We will provide further updates as soon as we receive and collate relevant data. The Filipino people are assured that the Philippine Government is committing all its efforts for the protection of the safety and security of our citizens in the Middle East," he said.