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MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 2) The ongoing Israeli attack in Gaza Strip prevented the evacuation of six Filipino nationals there, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.
"[They] were not able to join the Red Cross convoy that would take them to the Eretz border crossing because of the dangerous and dire security situation near where they are staying," said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos.
"Upon the advice of security officials, all Filipino nationals were told to remain indoors. No evacuation of foreign nationals from Gaza has taken place today. Efforts will continue in succeeding days to evacuate Filipino nationals who decide to leave Gaza," he said.
Earlier on Monday, Conejos said only these six Filipinos (a family of five and a nun) from the earlier 66, who booked a flight back to Manila via Jordan, agreed to leave Gaza. Most of those who wanted to leave were women whose Palestinian husbands were not given permission to leave by Gaza authorities.
Others decided it was safe where they were located, he said.
Conejos warned that the "very, very fluid" situation in Gaza might even cancel the pullout of Filipinos from the war zone.
"It is very possible that this operation can be completely cancelled," he said.
"There are no guarantees. In times of war no entity can guarantee the safety of our nationals," he added.
Conejos said there were 108 Filipinos in Gaza made up of 20 families, one overseas Filipino worker, and one nun.
Vice President Noli de Castro also quoted Philippine Ambassador to Israel Petronilla Garcia as saying that ?the problem with the evacuees is that they keep changing their minds.?
Carmelita Dimzon of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said there was only one Filipino worker in the war zone, Isabelita Balala, 47, who is in Dier El Balah.
?She is safer indoors. It?s too dangerous for her to go out because of the explosions and missiles,? Dimzon said.
Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said a deployment ban in Israel was not forthcoming. He said that around 39,000 Filipino workers in Israel were far from the fighting.
In Makati City, around 20 people attempted to march on the Israeli Embassy to protest the Israeli incursion into Gaza, but were prevented by riot police from getting near the building.
?We just want to be heard ... I don?t understand why you are preventing us,? shouted Norhaiya Diabo, 27, as she cradled an object wrapped in white cloth which she said symbolized the children killed in the Gaza conflict.
In a statement, Migrante International chair Garry Martinez accused Manila of ?turning a blind eye to the United States-Israeli led massacre of the Palestinian people.?
Sen. Loren Legarda asked Malacañang to join other nations in seeking a stop to hostilities in Gaza.
?The community of nations must move for an immediate ceasefire, which is the first step to resolving the problem,? Legarda said in a statement. With reports from Cynthia D. Balana, Kristine L. Alave, Jerome Aning, Miko Morelos and Christine O. Avendano
