DFA exec says 20 Filipinos in West Bank want to go back to PH

Smoke is seen rising in Gaza from a viewpoint in Southern Israel on October 23, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura

MANILA, Philippines — Almost 20 Filipinos in the West Bank have signified their desire to return to the Philippines as fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas intensifies.

“There are a few. Almost 20 [Filipinos who have signified their intentions]. But [their repatriation] would be easier,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a mix of English and Filipino during an interview with Radyo 630.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official also said at least 122 Filipinos are in the West Bank, one of two designated Palestinian-occupied territories, the other being the Gaza Strip.

“Out of that, mga 20 ang gustong umuwi. Well, hindi magkaka giyera doon. Pero ‘yung peace and order [ang concern at] maraming protest ngayon. Mas madali ‘yun kasi tatawid lang [sila] ng Jordan,” he added.

(Out of that, about 20 want to go home. Well, there will be no war there. But peace and order [is the concern, and] there are many protests now. That’s easier because [they] will just cross Jordan.)

READ: 17 Israel OFWs returning to PH on October 18 — DMW

De Vega did not provide more details, including the repatriation schedule, but noted that the Philippine government will bring them home as “soon as possible.”

The DFA has raised crisis alert level 2 over West Bank. The Philippine Embassy in Jordan said this alert level is issued when there are “real threats to the life, security, and property of Filipinos” arising from internal and external threats to the host country.

READ: 2nd batch of Filipinos from Israel coming home on Oct 20 – gov’t

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