WATCH: 5 things OFWs in Turkey shouldn’t do after the coup

MANILA, Philippines –  Families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Turkey need not worry: the bloody coup attempt in the Middle Eastern country, did not hurt any of the nearly 3,500 Filipinos there, according to Consul General Robert Ferrer, Jr.

“All Filipinos are safe in Turkey,” Ferrer said in a Skype interview with Rappler Saturday night, July 16.

“Sanay na ang mga Filipinos dito sa Turkey sa krisis (Filipinos in Turkey are used to dealing with crisis). They area a resilient group. They are supportive of each other,” he added.

Turkish authorities said they had regained control of the country hours on the same day, after quashing a coup attempt that claimed more than 250 lives and left nearly 3,000 discontented soldiers detained. 

After the bloodiest challenge to his 13-year rule, President Reccep Tayip Erdogan urged his backers to remain on the streets to prevent a possible “flare-up” of Friday’s chaos in the strategic NATO member of 80 million people.

Ferrer said that the Philippine embassy in Turkey advised members of the Filipino community to “stay indoors and to keep in touch” through the embassy’s Facebook page or emergency hotline 905375772344. 

“Even as the Turkish government has announced the end of the crisis, we urge all Filipinos to remain on alert and vigilant,” Ferrer stressed.

The consul general also advised all Filipinos in Turkey to keep the following reminders in mind:

• Iwasan iyong mga matataong lugar (Avoid crowded areas)
• Huwag gamitin ang pampublikong sakayan (Don’t use public transport)
• Iwasang lumapit sa mga embahada ng anti-ISIS coalition (Don’t go near embassies that belong to the anti-ISIS coalition)
• Huwag sumama sa mga political rallies (Don’t join political rallies)
• Huwag tumabi sa mga himpilang pulis at militar (Stay away from police or military posts)

Ferrer also gave assurances that the embassy is ready with a contingency plan that includes evacuating OFWS from crisis areas if the need arises. – Rappler.com