DFA Releases

DFA Statement on the Reported Violation of Human Rights of Filipinos in Sabah

Sunday, 10 March 2013 17:05
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10 March 2013

The Department of Foreign Affairs views with grave concern the alleged rounding up of community members of Suluk/Tausug descent in Lahad Datu and other areas in Sabah and the alleged violations of human rights reported in the media by some Filipinos who arrived in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi from Sabah.

The Department is coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other relevant agencies to document these reports so that appropriate actions could be taken.

The Department urges the Malaysian government to take steps to clarify these alleged incidents.

The Department continues to call on the Malaysian Government to give our Philippine Embassy officials and the Philippine humanitarian/consular team dispatched to Lahad Datu and nearby areas full access to the Filipinos being held “in several locations in Sabah but outside the ‘Ops Daulat’ area,” as announced by the Malaysian Inspector General of the Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar on 08 March 2013, to enable them to fulfill their mission which is to provide humanitarian and consular assistance to Filipinos who have been affected by the incident.

We reiterate our call on the Malaysian Government to give humane treatment to the Filipinos under their custody.

The allegations are alarming and should be properly and immediately addressed by concerned authorities. END

 

Statement on the Release of 21 Filipino UN Peacekeepers

Sunday, 10 March 2013 10:52
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10 March 2013

The Philippines welcomes the release of all 21 Filipino Peacekeepers who were detained on 6 March 2013 in Jamla, Syria. 

The Philippine Government and its people express deep appreciation to the Jordanian Government and military officials on the successful safe passing over to the Jordanian side of all our 21 Filipino Peacekeepers and to all those who have exerted and contributed to the collective efforts to effect the safe release of all 21 members of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). 

The Philippines stresses the impartiality of UNDOF and its mandate to monitor the Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria and strongly reiterates its call on all parties to respect the freedom of movement and safety and security of peacekeepers in UNDOF.  

Indeed, this respect of freedom of movement and safety and security of peacekeepers must be extended to all United Nations peacekeeping missions consistent with commitments and obligations under international law. END

 
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