BAGUIO CITY — The government is prepared to evacuate some 50,000 Filipinos in South Korea should tensions in the Korean peninsula escalate, President Benigno Aquino III said Friday.
"I asked the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to make sure that they do test runs kung saka-sakaling kelangang i-evacuate. I asked the DFA also to talk to the Japanese government, to their ambassador, dahil yung closest point ng evacuation is about 50 kilometers, sa Japan," Aquino said in an interview here.
Aquino said the United Nations has assured them that it will secure the safety of nine Filipinos in North Korea, five of whom are working for the UN and four who are working for an international tobacco company.
On Thursday, Aquino presided over a meeting of the Cabinet's security cluster in Malacañang, where the current tension between the two Koreas was discussed.
Also on Friday, Malacañang issued a statement condemning North Korea's artillery attack on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong which is near their disputed sea border.
Four people, including two South Korean marines, were killed in the attack, which prompted South Korea to return fire.
"The Philippines condemns the artillery attack by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Yeonpyeong Island, and is gravely concerned over the resulting rise in tensions in the Korean Peninsula. The attack constitutes a clear and flagrant violation of international law," a Palace statement read.
"The Philippines commends the Republic of Korea for having demonstrated extraordinary restraint in the wake of the attack on the corvette ROKS Cheonan on 26 March 2010, and again in the wake of this unprovoked and overt attack. We call for the continued exercise of restraint," it added.
The Philippine government also called on North Korea to abide by its obligations under international law and the UN Charter, and to adhere to the Armistice Agreement of 1953, the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement of 1991, and the Declaration on the Advancement of South-North Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity of Oct. 4, 2007.
Assessment
In the interview with reporters, Aquino said the possibility of tension escalating between the two Korean states is unlikely based on security and foreign officials' assessment, but he said the Philippine government is preparing to evacuate Filipinos in South Korea anyway in case evacuation becomes necessary.
Aside from ordering the DFA to coordinate with the Japanese government, Aquino said he has also asked the Armed Forces to prepare the C-130 plane and LSS ship in case they are needed for transportation.
He said the government has also talked to Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific to make sure that additional carriers are ready in case evacuation is needed.
"The budget is being prepared in case it's needed but as of this time I just wanted them to make sure we are able to reach out to all of the people that we have there," Aquino said.
PAL said in a statement Friday that it is ready to mount emergency flights in case there will be a full-blown conflict between North and South Korea. (See: PAL readies emergency flights for Filipinos in Korea) — RSJ,
