26 May 2006 – Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban B. Conejos, Jr. has advised Filipinos to avoid traveling to Timor-Leste at this time in view of the unstable security situation in that country.

 “Secretary Romulo has already taken a series of measures to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Timor-Leste, and I am following up on these actions by calling on Filipinos intending to travel to Timor-Leste to avoid doing so as the Department of Foreign Affairs conducts a full assessment of the security situation there in order to ensure the safety of our nationals,” Undersecretary Conejos said. (Please see the related Press Release, dated today, on this topic.)

“The Secretary has likewise instructed our Embassy in Dili to issue the necessary precautions to Filipinos residing in Timor-Leste to remain indoors and to maintain constant communication with the Embassy for further advisories,” the Undersecretary added.  END