Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday criticized the Philippine government’s delayed response to the recent conflict between Israel and Iran, calling the measures taken to protect overseas Filipinos “too little, too late.”
Duterte said the hostilities between the two countries were not unexpected and that contingency measures should have been in place the moment missiles were launched.
“Too little too late again. Dapat kasi the moment na nag-release na ng missiles ay mayroon nang plano kung ano ang gagawin para sa mga Pilipino na gusto lumikas,” she said, stressing that immediate action was needed instead of waiting for borders to close or flights to be canceled.
The government had issued Alert Level 3 advisories for both Israel and Iran last week—about eight days after Israel conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear and missile sites. The Department of Foreign Affairs has since announced repatriation options through Jordan for Filipinos in Israel and through Turkmenistan for those in Iran due to restricted airspace.
While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public that the Iran-Israel conflict poses “no significant impact” on the Philippine economy, he acknowledged rising fuel prices and said the government is monitoring for price gouging. He also noted that the United States had already announced a ceasefire before Philippine officials convened to address the matter.
Despite her criticisms, Duterte said the Office of the Vice President is “ready to support” both the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers in repatriation efforts.
Currently, there are around 30,000 Filipinos in Israel and 1,200 in Iran. Those who choose to return to the Philippines will receive government assistance, including financial aid and access to training programs to help them rebuild their lives.
