While they were still alive, the 90 Filipinos in Afghanistan called on the Philippine government to evacuate them after the Taliban rebels seized control of the country.
On Sunday, the Philippines raised the situation in Afghanistan to Alert Level 4, which means mandatory repatriation of Filipinos there.
In a report by JP Soriano on GMA News “24 Oras” on Monday, it was said that 32 Filipinos have been evacuated and have arrived in Doha, Qatar.
The Department of Foreign Affairs had earlier said that there are an estimated 130 Filipinos in Afghanistan.
Among the Filipinos left behind in Afghanistan was Ricardo Tacbad, who called for their evacuation.
“Hindi kami sure kung ano mangyari sa amin bukas. Habang, we are still alive and kicking, kumilos na po kayo. Kumilos na po kayo, please,” said Tacbad.
Mark Suela, a security personnel at a hotel near Kabul airport, also feared for his safety.
He shared a video of gunshots being heard near his area.
In a separate interview on “Dobol B TV” on Monday, Joseph Glenn Gumpal, leader of the Filipino community in Afghanistan, said they talk regularly to find out updates on repatriation that the government will do.
Some Filipinos in Afghanistan called on gov’t to evacuate them
“Talagang kami ay kinabahan din talaga. Panay ang tawag namin sa Philippine Embassy [para tanungin] kailan ba talaga mangyayari ang repatriation kasi natatakot na kami,” he said because the Taliban are known for killing and beheading.
They said they were even more worried when the president of Afghanistan suddenly fled the country.
“Hindi namin alam kung ano ang plano nila (Taliban), kung papasukin nila kami dito sa compound o ano,” he said.
According to Gumpal, most of the 173 Filipinos live in compounds owned by the companies they work for.
Of the 173 Filipinos, Gumpal said 78 of them are awaiting repatriation by the government. Others joined the repatriation efforts of their respective companies with a contingency plan in place.
The Palace, on the other hand, ensured that there is a repatriation program in place for Filipinos in Afghanistan.
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