Malacañang assured Filipinos in Myanmar that the Philippine government is ready to help them in case they want to return home amid the coup staged by the powerful military.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Myanmar's military took control of the country in a coup and declared a state of emergency after detaining State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior government leaders in raids Monday morning following a supposed election fraud during the November 2020 polls.
In his Monday presser, Roque said that while the Palace will not comment for now on the events happening in its Southeast Asian neighbor, Malacañang's priority is the safety of the Filipinos in Myanmar.
"Ang ating pangunahing concern sa Myanmar ay ang kaligtasan ng ating mga mamamayan (Our main concern in Myanmar is the safety of our people there)," he said.
"Inaasahan po natin na gumagawa ng mga hakbang ang ating embahada roon para bigyan ng proteksyon ang ating mga mamamayan (We expect that our embassy there are taking measures to protect our people)," he added.
According to Roque, the Philippine government is ready to assist Filipinos who will decide to go home amid the tension in Myanmar.
"Kung gusto pong umuwi ng mga Pilipino, gagawan po natin ng paraan na sila ay makauwi (If they want to return to the Philippines, we will find ways so they can come home)," he said.
"Naka-standby naman po ang ating hukbong sandatahan kung kinakailangang ma-air-lift, o kaya ang mga bapor ng ating Philippine Navy kung kinakailangan na pauwiin yung mga Pilipinong nandiyan sa Myanmar (Our armed forces are on standby if we have to air-lift them home. The boats of the Philippine Navy are also ready in case we really have to bring them home)," he added.
Meanwhile, Roque hoped that the situation in Myanmar will return to normal soon.
"Inaasahan po natin na sa lalong mabilis na panahon ay babalik ‘yan sa normal, bagaman ang pangyayari sa Myanmar ay isang bagay na internal at hindi po natin pinahihimasukan. (We expect that the situation in Myanmar will return to normal as soon as possible, though we will not interfere since it is an internal matter)," he said.
In a statement, the Philippine Embassy in Myanmar advised Filipinos in the said country to remain calm and stay home amid the state of emergency. It also encouraged them to register with the embassy.