MANILA: As bodies continued to pile up in the bloody civil war in his country, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad turned to the Philippines for help in finding a “political solution” to the conflict.
Reliable diplomatic sources said last night that among the solutions being explored are asylum for Assad in the Philippines or financial help for drained Syrian national coffers.
Assad’s regime is also eyeing Manila as intermediary with the US, the European Union and the Arab League, according to the sources from several foreign embassies in Manila.
The sources said Assad’s trusted political and media adviser Bouthaina Shaaban arrived in Manila last Sunday and was escorted to Malacañang the other day by a ranking official of the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Several other DFA officials were present at the meeting with President Aquino, the sources said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario confirmed the meeting and that a political solution to the two-year-old Syrian conflict was discussed. Del Rosario did not elaborate.
“Shaaban, who has been most instrumental in expediting the repatriation of our folks from Syria, had asked to personally deliver a letter from President Bashar Assad to our President,” he said.
“During their short meeting, she discussed a proposal for a political solution in Syria.”
He said Aquino “expressed his gratitude for assistance to date, with a request for her continuing help for the over 3,000 Filipinos remaining for repatriation.”
The Philippine star
