BACOLOD CITY, (PNA) –- Mayor Monico Puentevella urged his constituents Wednesday to earnestly pray for their fellowmen who are caught in the middle of the unrest in Syria and the siege in Zamboanga City.
Puentevella made the call after US President Barack Obama disclosed plans of targeted strikes in Syria and as Zamboanga City is experiencing standoff between government troops and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
He also asked the Department of Foreign Affairs officials, who attended the opening of the Bacolod consular office Wednesday, to take care of the Filipinos who are still in Syria.
Filipino workers in Syria have been coming home to the Philippines recently following the civil unrest in Syria, including the 41 who arrived Tuesday.
Tensions have escalated in Syria as the US government is set to launch airstrikes after hundreds of citizens were killed due to chemical weapon attack apparently ordered by its leader President Bashar Assad.
Since the unrest in Syria started in 2011, 4,586 OFWs were already repatriated to the country.
In Zamboanga City, 15 evacuation centers have been put up to accommodate displaced residents now numbering 3,013 families composed of 14,322 individuals.