Filipinos ‘safe’ despite tension in Korea – Palace

MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos in and out of the country will be safe despite escalating tension between North and South Korea, Malacañang said on Sunday, March 31.

Communications officers of President Benigno Aquino III gave this assurance in separate text messages.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that the President is alarmed by the situation, and a contingency plan is already in place in case of a nuclear fallout.

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“NDRRMC has a continuing contingency plan to respond to external threats, including previous missiles launched from the two Koreas,” he said.

North Korea announced Saturday, March 30, that it had entered into a “state of war” with South Korea and would deal with every inter-Korean issue accordingly.

Pyongyang also threatened a possible strike against US military bases in Japan.

“We maintain a posture of vigilance and adherence to diplomatic modes of conflict resolution,” Coloma continued.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, on the other hand, said that Filipinos staying in South Korea would be safe as well.

“The President has directed the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to ensure that the Philippine embassy in [South] Korea coordinate with the Filipino community there. For this reason, the embassy is coordinating with Filipino community leaders on steps to be taken pertinent to the situation in the Korean Peninsula,” he said.

In an earlier statement, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said a “state of heightened alertness” was already enforced for all Filipinos residing in South Korea. – with reports from Reynaldo Santos Jr./Rappler.com