REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to monitor the whereabouts of 16 Indonesian nationals in the Marawi City of the Philippines who have sought help to be evacuated from the area.

"There are 16 people, but they are located in different places; 10 are together in one area, and the six others are gathered in another part of the city," Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi noted at the Bogor Presidential Palace, Monday evening. 

Marsudi stated that her ministry is in constant contact with the Indonesian Consulate in the Philippines' Davao City, Indonesian Embassy in Manila, as well as the local authorities.

"We are also coordinating with our authorities in the country," she stated.

Marsudi revealed that the ministry had received the request from 16 Indonesian nationals for help in evacuating them from the area in which martial law had been declared.

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"Up until now, we are yet to be able to take action because based on the contact we made with the local authorities, the military operation is still ongoing, so we cannot make any moves at the moment," she stated.

She further explained that based on the information gathered from the local authorities, all 16 Indonesians are seeking shelter in mosques and are in good condition.

With regard to the information on one of the Indonesians having died, the minister said that the news was yet to be confirmed.

"There are several foreign nationals who died during the military operation, and I cannot confirm just yet whether there was an Indonesian who became a victim," she remarked.

The minister also said that in such an emergency situation, her ministry will continue to establish contact with the Philippines.

"This is an emergency situation. We need to first thoroughly understand it, and it is also important for us to not focus on just one scenario," she concluded.

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