By CHARISSA M. LUCI
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left Monday to pursue her five-day swing to United States and Spain with a directive to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure the safety of nearly 15,000 Filipinos in Thailand, particularly those living and working in Bangkok following the escalation of violence in the Thai capital.
Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza said Mrs. Arroyo wanted to “keep the peace and make all situation very normal” while she was away for her five-day swing in the United States and Spain.
“We’re monitoring of what’s happening in Thailand and you know the concern is the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region,” he said in ambush interview after the President and her 25-man delegation flew to Washington via Philippines Airlines chartered flight at 8:30 a.m.
He said there is still no need to evacuate the 14,880 Filipinos in Thailand.
During the send-off, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. was there to receive the directive from the President to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Thailand.
The recent protest rallies in key areas of Bangkok that started on March 12 resulted in the death of 21 people. The protestors who called themselves the Red Shirts asked for the dissolution of parliament within 15 days and asked Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to hold new elections alleging that he got his post illegitimately in December 2008.
They organized the rallies to express their support to Thailand’s former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by military coup in 2006.
In its standing advisory issued on March 9, the DFA advised the traveling public to postpone all non-essential travel to Thailand, specifically Bangkok. It said Filipinos who are already in Thailand are advised to avoid areas that have been identified as meeting areas and staging areas for the rallyists.
Mrs. Arroyo is set to meet congressional leaders during her visit to Washington where she will attend the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) on April 12-13. She will rub elbows with 43 other world leaders at the summit being hosted by US President Barack Obama.
She is also expected to receive on Tuesday the Teddy Roosevelt International Conservation Award, which drew flak from environmental and religious groups.
During her trip to Madrid on April 15, she will also receive the Premio Internacional Don Quixote de la Mancha from Spanish King Juan Carlos I for promoting Spanish language in the Philippines at the Palacio de la Zarzuela, the principal residence of the Spanish monarch.
President Arroyo is also set to have a private meeting with the King and meet with members of the Royal Family, including Queen Sofia.
She will also have bilateral talks with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who is currently holding the 27-nation European Union's (EU) rotating presidency.
Mrs. Arroyo will also meet with Tomas Pascual, the president of Spanish food conglomerate Grupo Leche Pascual, which is eyeing to establish its hub in the Philippines for its Asian operations.
She will return to Manila either on April 16 or April 17.
Manila Bulletin
