DFA ISSUES TRAVEL, SAFETY ADVISORY TO FILIPINOS IN VENEZUELA 

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has issued a travel and safety advisory to Filipinos in Venezuela amid the escalating political tension in the said country.

The DFA issued the advisory  following the capture of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by American special forces Friday night to face trial in the United States for alleged narco-terrorism.

On Saturday, at least  40 people were killed in US airstrikes on Venezuela, including civilians and members of the armed forces, The New York Times reported, citing an anonymous senior Venezuelan official.

The large-scale attack took place in the early hours of the morning as US forces carried out an operation to capture Maduro and his wife.

The couple is now in custody in New York.

According to DFA spokesman Angelica Escalona, the Philippines is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Venezuela.

The  Department said that the Philippine Embassy in Colombia is prepared to assist Filipinos there.

 “The Philippine Embassy in Bogota, which serves as non-resident mission for Venezuela, has issued a travel and safety advisory to Filipinos in Venezuela, and stands ready to provide assistance to them, as necessary and appropriate, to keep them out of harm’s way,” the DFA, in a statement on Sunday, said.

Escalona also said the Philippines is urging concerned parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means, and to exercise restraint to prevent escalation of conflict,

There are 74 Filipinos in Venezuela based on DFA records.