Filipinos in Russia unfazed by mutiny, opted to stay – DFA

by Beatrice Pinlac Inquirer.net

MANILA — No Filipino in Russia has asked to be repatriated after the recent power struggle between the military and a mutinous paramilitary group, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Monday, June 26.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said there are 10,000 Filipinos in Russia.

At least 8,000 of them are in the capital Moscow, he added.

“Filipinos are advised not to undertake unnecessary travels outside their region,” he said.

Last Saturday, June 24, the embassy urged Filipinos to adhere to Russia’s rules.

It had also asked them to refrain from posting “political comments on social media.” especially during typhoons and earthquakes, as well as concerns over a possible Chinese military action against Taiwan. Farming and fishing are the main sources of food and income for the Ivatans.

The advisory came after Wagner, a para-military group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, took control of two cities south of Moscow and began an advance toward the capital.

Strategic location

An island chain and the country’s northernmost province where the Pacific Ocean merges with the South China Sea, Batanes is located less than 150 kilometers from its nearest point to the south of Taiwan. It has six municipalities and a population of 18,000.

Both the United States and China have been actively helping the strategically located province in recent years.

Analysts have said that self-ruling Taiwan is a potential flashpoint in U.S.-China relations, with Washington as its most important backer.

Beijing considers the island a part of its territory and has not ruled out taking it by force if necessary.

In April, Filipino and American troops trained to defend Batanes from potential aggressors as part of the “Balikatan” military exercises.

Cayco said at the time that their residents were worried that the island would get caught in the crossfire amid the tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan.

The repeated calls to the national government from local officials to build bigger seaports and airports in anticipation of hosting thousands of Filipino repatriates in the event of a crisis over Taiwan appeared to be finally making headway.

Cayco said in the same speech that the Philippine Ports Authority would help in planning the construction of a seaport and their architects would soon start training for its planning. n