13 Filipinos Evacuated from Ukraine arrive in Poland, Welcomed by Secretary Locsin at Border

Secretary Locsin with the 13 Filipinos evacuated from Ukraine. (DFA Photo by Asec. J. Ledda)

Pasay City, 26 February 2022 – Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., was at the Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne Border Crossing Station in Poland today to welcome the 13 Filipinos evacuated from Ukraine. The evacuees were led by Philippine Ambassador to Poland Leah Basinang-Ruiz, who is overseeing the government’s efforts to repatriate Filipinos in Ukraine. 

At 1250H local time, Secretary Locsin welcomed the evacuees onboard the bus after a five-hour wait. Food and bottled water were distributed to the evacuees.

After attending the EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in Paris, the Secretary arrived in Poland yesterday afternoon to help welcome the first group of Filipino evacuees. The Secretary, accompanied by Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Jaime Victor Ledda, was briefed by Embassy officials upon his arrival yesterday.

The evacuation of affected Filipinos to Poland is part of the DFA’s efforts to ensure the immediate safety of Filipinos in Ukraine amidst the conflict. 

“We are on high-alert 24/7 to ensure that Filipinos are safe in this conflict. Our Embassies in Poland and Hungary have been working hard these past days to account for each Filipino in Ukraine, and to repatriate them as soon as possible. Our people only need to ask, and we will get them home safe,” said Secretary Locsin.

The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to enjoin Filipinos in Ukraine to exercise caution and remain vigilant, and to immediately contact the Philippine Embassy team in Lviv or the Consulate General in Kyiv should they require any assistance. 

Filipinos in Ukraine who wish to be repatriated may get in touch with the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw through the following contact details:

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Emergency Hotline: +48 604 357 396

Office Mobile Number:  +48 694 491 663

Those who need repatriation assistance near the borders at Moldova and Romania may reach the Philippine Embassy in Budapest through the following contact details:

Hungary

Budapest PE Emergency Hotline: +36 30 202 1760

Assistance-To-Nationals Officer: +36 30 074 5656 (mobile);  

                                                     +63 966 340 4725 (Viber)

Moldova

Consul Victor Gaina  

Mobile number and WhatsApp: +37369870870

Email addresses: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Filipinos may also get in touch with the Department of Foreign Affairs through the following social media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/DFAPHL; https://www.facebook.com/OFWHelpPH. END