Filipinos in Thai-Cambodia border urged to exercise 'extreme caution'
In this photo released by Royal Thai Army, a wounded Thai soldier is carried to be transferred to a hospital in Sisaket province, Thailand, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, after, according to a Thai army spokesperson, Cambodian troops fired into Thai territory. (Royal Thai Army via AP)
Filipinos living and staying near the Thailand-Cambodia border are advised to exercise “extreme caution” and to remain vigilant amid the ongoing armed clashes there.
The Philippine Embassy in Thailand assured that it stands ready to assist Filipinos there as it is currently monitoring the situation in the border.
“The Philippine Embassy in Thailand urgently advises members of the Filipino community in the border provinces of Ubon Ratchatani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Sa Kaeo, Buri Ram, Chantaburi, and Trat to earnestly follow the advice, including any evacuation orders, from local public safety and community officials, their employers, and other pertinent authorities in the affected areas,” the advisory read.
“All overseas Filipinos in areas near the border are also enjoined to exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant, take steps to ensure their personal safety, and report their whereabouts to the Philippine Embassy,” it added.
The embassy also asked the Filipino community there “to actively monitor official communication channels for security updates.”
Traveling to the provinces, meanwhile, is also highly discouraged because of the ongoing strife.
Based on the latest records from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) there are an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 Filipinos in Cambodia, including 87 in its two border provinces.
On the other hand, Thailand has some 38,509 Filipinos, with 125 in seven border provinces.
Renewed fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbors has spread along their disputed border on Monday, Dec. 8, the fiercest since a five-day exchange of rockets and heavy artillery in July, when 48 people were killed and 300,000 displaced.
United States President Donald Trump has brokered a ceasefire then but this broke as Thailand said Cambodian forces have been detected inside Thai territory in Trat and military operations were launched to expel them.
For centuries, the neighbors have contested the sovereignty of the 817-kilometer land border.
The Philippine Embassy said it can be reached through its Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) and Migrant Workers Office hotlines at (+66) 81 989 7116 (WhatsApp and Viber), @bangkokpe.consular (LINE), [email protected] (email), and (+66) 83 137 6167 (LINE, WhatsApp, and Viber).
It is also urging Filipinos residing in the border provinces to answer the survey at https://tinyurl.com/FilMappingSurveyTHKHBorder to help the embassy better coordinate its efforts.