President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday that the Philippine government is actively monitoring the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, with efforts underway to assist overseas Filipinos who wish to leave the affected areas.
In a Manila Standard report, Marcos confirmed that Filipino nationals in both countries have been contacted and given the option to evacuate. “We have already contacted all our nationals and asked them if they want to be evacuated,” the President said.
He added that some Filipinos in Israel have already requested assistance to leave, while others in Iran, who were initially hesitant, are now seeking help. “At first, those in Iran didn’t want to leave, but now they’re afraid and are asking for help to get out,” Marcos explained.
Evacuation logistics, however, remain challenging due to closed airports and restricted air routes. “We’re trying to find routes to get them out,” the President noted.
To oversee the operation, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has dispatched Secretary Hans Cacdac to Jordan, where he will help coordinate the repatriation of Filipinos, especially those fleeing from the two conflict zones.
As of now, the alert level remains unchanged. Marcos said the government is not yet declaring mandatory evacuation, stressing the importance of personal choice. “We generally leave it to each individual or to each family to decide for themselves whether or not they feel safe or whether or not they would like to be evacuated,” he said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and DMW are expected to provide further updates as the situation develops.
