Several governments have already managed to charter flights for their citizens caught in the Middle East conflict, but Philippine officials say the situation is far more complicated than Vice President Sara Duterte has suggested.
Reuters reported that the US government completed more than a dozen charter flights since last week, evacuating thousands of Americans from the region, according to the State Department. NHK reported that a Japanese government-chartered evacuation flight carrying stranded tourists has already landed in Japan. The BBC reported that the UK government will charter a flight from Dubai next week, while Ireland has also arranged a flight that departed Oman on Saturday afternoon carrying stranded Irish nationals. Private jets have also emerged as an option for those trying to leave the United Arab Emirates.
Duterte had earlier said chartering a flight to repatriate affected Filipinos would be straightforward, citing her experience as Davao City mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the local government used pandemic funds to book a commercial flight for stranded passengers.
But Malacañang on Monday pushed back against the vice president’s remarks. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB that deploying air assets to the region is not feasible while the airspace remains shut.
“Nadinig ko po na ‘yan, na parang napakadali lang, hindi daw problema na magpadala ng eroplano sa ganoong sitwasyon. Actually po ang Pangulo, ito po ah, noong kami po ay nagmeeting para dito… ang unang-una po talagang naalala ng Pangulo ay ito po ah, para malaman ng lahat na hindi po ganoon kadali magpadala ng eroplano… unang-una po, pag sarado po ang airspace, hindi ka po talaga makakalipad… so kaya po imposible ‘yung sinasabi ng Bise Presidente na madaling magpadala ng eroplano,” Castro said.
Castro added that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. raised the concern during a special Cabinet meeting, stressing that any flight operation must guarantee the safety of Filipino passengers.
“Sabi niya, baka lalong malagay sa kapahamakan ‘yung ating mga kababayan. Siguraduhin lang na kung sila ay ililipad, siguraduhing ligtas ‘yung buhay,” Castro said.
A total of 90 OFWs and their families arrived safely in the Philippines from the UAE on Sunday, with additional batches of workers and dependents expected to be brought home in the weeks ahead.
