Metro Manila, Philippines – Filipinos in Israel have been warned to avoid gatherings as missile exchanges between Israel and Iran intensify, Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola said in an interview on The Newsmaker.
The conflict escalated after Israel and the United States carried out strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, prompting retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran. Airspace closures, repeated sirens and prolonged shelter stays have since disrupted daily life across Israel, including in the capital Tel Aviv where the Philippine embassy is located.
“Today is day three of the state of emergency here in Israel,” Mendiola said, describing near-constant alerts from Israel’s Home Front Command.
“The nature of the attacks are a little bit different because now we tend to stay longer inside the bomb shelters,” she said.
She added that missile alerts are more frequent and closely spaced.
“There was actually one episode where we stayed for over an hour and a half inside the shelter,” she said. “There was also a time when we literally stayed in the bomb shelter in and out for three hours straight.”
Mendiola said alarms repeatedly instruct residents to take cover and remain there until cleared.
“Mayat-maya nagriring yung home front command telling us to go into the safe room and to stay put and not to leave until there is a go signal,” she said.
[Translation: The home front command keeps ringing every so often, telling us to go into the safe room and to stay put and not leave until there is a signal that we can come out.]
No gatherings
Strict emergency restrictions are in place nationwide, she said.
“Bawal mag-congregate indoors or outdoors. Walang trabaho, walang skwela,” Rau said.
[Translation: Gathering is prohibited indoors or outdoors. There is no work, no school.]
Only essential businesses such as groceries and fruit stands are open, she said, while most residents remain near shelters.
Even organizing Filipinos for coordination is difficult under lockdown conditions.
“Ito nga, pati yung pag-gather problematic din kasi we’re on strict lockdown,” she said.
[Translation: Even gathering is problematic because we are under strict lockdown.]
The embassy has been conducting safety checks whenever missile impact sites are reported, dividing lists of Filipinos in affected areas and contacting them individually.
A Google survey circulated through the embassy’s WhatsApp channel and social media has allowed officials to monitor the location and needs of Filipinos in real time.
As of the latest count, 32 Filipino workers have expressed interest in voluntary repatriation.
However, Mendiola said evacuation remains complicated as Israel’s airspace is closed and regional tensions remain high.
“The caveat is how do we repatriate them when the region is in conflict?” she said, stressing that clearly defined and secure exit points are required before any movement can be arranged.
Israel remains under Alert Level 2, Mendiola said, noting that the situation is “still manageable” compared with previous escalations when repatriation demand surged.
