President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government is not yet enforcing mandatory repatriation for Filipinos in Israel and Iran, even as tensions between the two countries continue to rise.
In a GMA News Online report, Marcos explained that while the situation remains volatile, the decision to return home is currently left to the individual or their family. “We generally leave it to each individual, 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 President assured the public that the government is closely monitoring Filipinos in both countries. “We of course are watching our nationals both in Israel and in Iran and as a matter of fact, we have already contacted all our nationals and asked them if they want to be evacuated,” Marcos added.
To aid in evacuation efforts, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac has been dispatched to Jordan. The administration is also exploring alternative exit routes, given that several airports have been shut down due to the ongoing hostilities.
Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss confirmed that more than 20 Filipinos on official travel are currently in Israel. This includes 17 local government officials and a team studying dairy farming. The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv reported that the delegation—comprising 21 officials—is expected to return on Saturday, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
Data from the DMW shows that over 20,000 Filipinos are in Israel, with 13,000 documented and around 6,000 undocumented. In Iran, more than 700 Filipinos are residing, many of them married to locals.
The conflict escalated after Israel launched its most extensive aerial attack on Iran last Friday, following allegations that Iran was nearing the completion of a nuclear weapon. Tehran has denied these claims, asserting its right to peaceful nuclear development under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which Israel is not a signatory.
