By REGINA BENGCO and
ANTHONY IAN CRUZ
Malaya
Nov. 6, 2007

PRESIDENT Arroyo has directed the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine embassy in Islamabad to ensure the safety of some 3,000 Filipinos who are currently working in Pakistan after President Pervez Musharraf declared martial law on Nov. 3, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Monday.

Bunye said the President ordered the DFA to “closely monitor” the security situation, establish communications with the Filipinos in Pakistan and come up with other measures to assist them.

“The embassy has been instructed to take immediate steps, including the establishment of communication hotlines with the Filipino communities there, and to assess and recommend further measures that may be taken to ensure their safety,” he said.

DFA spokesperson Claro Cristobal said Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Jaime Yambao has already met with an initial 200 Filipinos in Islamabad and advised them to take security precautions and to inform Filipino diplomats of any developments affecting their security.

Aside from the embassy in Islamabad, the DFA also maintains consulates in Lahore and Karachi.

Musharraf suspended the country’s 1973 Constitution, replaced the Chief Justice and issued two ordinances toughening media laws, including a ban on live broadcasts of “incidents of violence and conflict.”

Pakistani police and soldiers arrested hundreds of protesters and detained several political figures.

Malacañang has not issued a comment on Musharaff’s declaration of martial law which has led to a crackdown on the political opposition and curtailment of civil liberties in Pakistan.

The United States, the European Union and the 53-member British Commonwealth, including Great Britain and India, have all criticized Musharraf’s declaration of martial law. The US and Britain are also reviewing their aid program to Musharraf’s government.