Amid ongoing airstrikes across the Middle East, the vast majority of Filipinos in Israel have chosen to stay put — with only 81 out of more than 26,000 signing up for repatriation flights, according to the Philippine ambassador.
Ambassador Aileen Mendiola told state television PTV on Friday that the figure represents just 0.3 percent of the estimated 26,675 documented and undocumented Filipinos currently in Israel.
“Sa figures namin, ang gustong magpa-repatriate lang ay 81. ‘Yan ang naka-lineup namin as of last night,” she said.
Mendiola attributed the low uptake to a sense of security among the Filipino community there. Many hold stable employment and have access to shelters that offer protection from Iranian strikes.
“Karamihan kaya hindi nagmamadali na magpa-repatriate, kasi they feel safe dito,” she said.
Those who have left did so through various routes. As of March 19, a total of 106 Filipinos have been repatriated — some crossing overland into Egypt, others flying home from Jordan.
The embassy has maintained contact with Filipinos who opted to remain, using social media and chat groups to disseminate regular advisories. Mendiola raised concern about the spread of misinformation, warning the community against circulating fabricated content.
“Aware kami na maraming fake news ang umiikot, may mga AI-generated images ng Israel na parang decimated lalo na ang Tel-Aviv,” she said.
She urged Filipinos to verify information through their own family members before accepting what they see online. “Bago ho ninyo paniwalaan iyon, paniwalaan niyo ho muna yung sinasabi ng kapamilya ninyo. Be very discerning po. Maraming fake news na umiikot.”
The conflict escalated after the US and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28, in the middle of ongoing nuclear negotiations. One Filipino sailor remains missing after a missile hit his vessel in the Strait of Hormuz during subsequent Iranian drone strikes across the region.
