President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday acknowledged the mounting challenges in evacuating overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Middle East, with 1,416 Filipinos requesting repatriation as hostilities continue to shut down airports and restrict airspace.
Airports in key areas have been closed, flights grounded, and large portions of airspace declared no-fly zones amid exchanges of missiles and drones.
“This is a combat area,” Marcos said in a Malacañang press briefing, describing the situation as “very fluid.”
Of those seeking repatriation, 586 are in Dubai, 297 in Israel, 270 in Abu Dhabi, 231 in Bahrain, 22 in Jordan, and 10 in Iran.
“The airports are closed. They are all no-fly zones,” Marcos cautioned, noting the risks of unpredictable conditions, including incidents of friendly fire involving military aircraft.
He added that land evacuations also pose dangers, as large vehicle movements in active combat zones could be misidentified and targeted.
“So right now, safety first for our people,” the President stressed.
SHELTER-IN-PLACE STRATEGY
For now, the government has adopted a shelter-in-place approach, advising Filipinos to remain indoors, stay near bomb shelters, and follow host government advisories.
In Israel, Philippine authorities have coordinated with hotels near shelter facilities to temporarily house Filipinos. Embassies, labor attachés, and defense attachés are maintaining round-the-clock coordination with local authorities to assess when safe evacuation corridors might open.
DIPLOMATIC POSITION
On the diplomatic front, Marcos clarified that the Philippines is not a party to the conflict and therefore cannot call for a ceasefire.
“We are not a party to any of this. The only people who can call for a ceasefire are those who are involved,” he said.
Still, he expressed hope that hostilities would ease soon.
“Let’s hope that there is a ceasefire… and we ask all parties to show restraint and to bring this to a close as quickly as possible,” Marcos said.