FILE Photo: Vice President Leni Robredo.
TALISAY CITY, Cebu — Conditions in Ukraine, amid its conflict with Russia, must be closely monitored by the national government to ensure the safety of Filipinos in the area, Vice President Leni Robredo reminded on Thursday.
Robredo on the sidelines of an event in St. Scholastica’s Academy in Tabunok, Talisay City said that close monitoring of events is crucial as conditions may change in just a snap — either the conflict worsens or deescalates.
This, she said, despite Filipinos in the country insisting on staying despite Russian military forces marching into Ukrainian borders.
“Ito cause of concern ko kasi I think it was two or three weeks ago na sinabi ko na siguraduhin na ‘yung safety noong 320 plus na mga Pilipinong nandoon. Pero ‘yung latest na balita natin, nag-offer na ‘yung DFA na i-repatriate sila. Konti lang ‘yung gustong umuwi. Gustong sabihin, pakiramdam nila ay safe pa sila doon,” she said.
(This is my cause of concern, I think I have said this two or three weeks ago to ensure the safety of more than 320 Filipinos there. But the latest development says the DFA offered to repatriate them. Few of them are willing. They are trying to say they still feel safe there.)
“Ako dapat, tutukan ito. Dapat tutukan kasi anytime now pwedeng mag-shift ‘yung conditions na pwedeng okay ngayon in a few days, hindi na,” she added.
(For me, we should focus on this. Anytime, the condition may change from ok to worse.)
But another thing that the government should prepare for according to Robredo is the conflict’s effects on prices of goods, especially oil products given that costs have skyrocketed in the past few weeks.
“So, kailangan talaga ‘yung mga plano kung saan sila dadalhin ay maayos na. Pero more than this, kailangan din nating paghandaan, ano ba ‘yung epekto nito sa halimbawa sa presyo ng– ‘yung world prices ng halimbawa, langis, ng marami pang ibang produkto, na ‘yun ‘yung natural consequence na meron ganitong upheaval,” she noted.
(So planning is necessary, where to bring them safely. But more than this, there is a need to prepare for this, like the effects of this to the world prices, like prices of oil and other products, the consequence of having this upheaval.)
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he authorized a special military operation in eastern Ukraine in support of separatist leaders in Donetsk and Lugansk.
This comes days after major superpowers warned Ukraine that a Russian invasion was imminent.
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Robredo said that strong relationships with other countries may be highlighted now, especially with the conflict possibly spilling over to other areas with many countries condemning Russia.
Robredo is in Talisay for her Cebu campaign leg. She is expected to visit other towns within the day, before proceeding to Cebu City for the grand rally at Southwestern University.