Senators ask DFA, DMW to protect Filipinos amid Iran’s attack on Israel

HOMEWARD BOUND Ambassador Alfonso Ferdinand Ver and Consul General Marford Angeles of the Embassy of the Philippines in the United Arab Emirates meet with the 39 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel while in transit at Abu Dhabi International Airport. They comprise the seventh batch of OFWs to return to the Philippines since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out in early October. — File photo dated Nov. 14, 2023 from DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS’ Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — Two senators on Monday called on the Philippine government to guarantee the safety of Filipinos in Israel and Iran amid the battle between the two countries.

READ: UN chief: Middle East, world cannot ‘afford more war’

In separate statements, Senators Francis Tolentino and Grace Poe said there is a need for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), as well as the embassies concerned, to protect Filipinos in the Middle East.

For her part, Poe urged the government to consider the issuance of an advisory against traveling to Israel and Iran in light of the ongoing battle.

“The safety of Filipinos in Israel and Iran should be the primordial concern amid the escalating conflict between the two countries,” said Poe.

“We call on our embassy officers in the two countries to monitor the situation of our kababayans (countrymen) and ensure utmost precautions about their safety and if necessary, encourage them to restrict their movements to the minimum,” she added.

READ: Philippines urges non-escalation of situation in Middle East

On April 14, Iran launched a direct attack on Israel for the first time, firing a wave of more than 300 missiles and drones.

Israel said it managed to intercept and stopped 99 percent of the strikes, but the Israeli army said 12 people were injured following the assault.

Iran, on the other hand, said its attack was only a response to the April 1 air strike on Tehran’s consulate building in the Syrian capital, Damascus, which is widely blamed on Israel.

Meanwhile, Tolentino said Overseas Filipinos residing in Israel need “government action” to secure their safety.

He likewise emphasized the necessity to repatriate Filipinos, if necessary, to avoid the loss of life should the conflict escalate further.

“I would say that at present, the immediate action needed is to determine the number of overseas Filipinos per country in the Middle East, assess the danger where they are now, and determine appropriate action based on their proximity to the place of conflict,” he said.

“That means that we must now take action for our compatriots who are in Israel,” he added.

The Philippine government expressed “deep concern” over the events in the Middle East.

The Philippines’ appeal, conveyed through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday, came after the Portuguese container ship MSC Aries — reportedly linked to Israel — was seized by Iranian forces on April 13.

The ship has 25 crew members, four of whom are Filipinos.