Yemen assures Filipinos’ safety

MANILA, Philippines—Yemen has committed to ensure the safety of some 1,400 Filipino workers in the country.

Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Qirbi made the assurance during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario in Sana’a, the Yemeni capital, on Saturday.

The two diplomats discussed “issues of mutual concern” between the Philippines and Yemen.

Del Rosario was accompanied by Philippine Ambassador-designate to Riyadh Ezzedin Tago, who has diplomatic jurisdiction over Yemen.

Tago earlier told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the Filipino community in Yemen had ignored the government’s call to voluntary leave the country due to the mounting tensions there.

“No Filipino has left Yemen or relocated to another country,” Tago said in a text message.

Before Yemen, Del Rosario flew to Damascus Friday to “assess the political situation in Syria and check the condition of 17,000 Filipinos there,” said Foreign Assistant Secretary J. Eduardo Malaya, also DFA spokesperson.