PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AND ROYAL THAI EMBASSY IN WARSAW JOIN HANDS TO EVACUATE THEIR NATIONALS FROM UKRAINE TO POLAND

On 03 March 2022, the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw evacuated 19 Filipino nationals to safety from Ukraine to Poland, almost two days after most of them were temporarily sheltered in Lviv.

For the journey to Poland, a number of Filipinos were accommodated in the bus which was chartered by the Royal Thai Embassy in Warsaw to bring their own nationals to Poland and fly them to their home country.

Consul General Mardomel Celo Melicor and ATN Officer Ariel Esparto escorted the Filipinos in crossing the Ukrainian and Polish borders via the Philippine Embassy van and the Royal Thai Embassy chartered bus.

Philippine Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz and Thai Ambassador Chettaphan Maksamphan greeted their respective nationals as they disembarked from the bus after their arrival in Warsaw just before midnight.

Ambassador Ruiz conveyed her deepest appreciation to her Thai counterpart, noting that, with the lack of available rental vehicles, Thailand’s act of generosity in sharing seats in their bus is a prime example of the ASEAN spirit of solidarity and cooperation. END

Deputy Chief of Mission Mardomel Celo D. Melicor (front row, second from left) and Minister Counsellor Jeerasak Pomsuwan (front row, third from left), join hands to show ASEAN solidarity as they pose in front of Thai and Filipino evacuees before leaving in the bus from Lviv to Warsaw.

ATN Officer Ariel Esparto (seated front, blue jacket) accompanies the Filipino evacuees in the bus carrying them to the hotel in Warsaw where they will stay while awaiting repatriation.

Ambassador Ruiz looks on as the Filipino evacuees check into their hotel in Warsaw where they will stay while awaiting repatriation.