Metro Manila, Philippines – Evacuating Filipinos from conflict-hit areas in the Middle East is not feasible at this time due to airport closures and escalating military activity, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Tuesday, March 3.
While more than a thousand Filipinos have asked to be brought home, Marcos said air travel restrictions and safety risks are preventing the government from mounting repatriation flights.
“As of early this morning, sampu ang gustong magpa-repatriate from Iran. Ang pinakamarami from Israel — 297, 22 from Jordan, 231 from Bahrain, 586 from Dubai, 270 from Abu Dhabi,” Marcos said.
[Translation: As of early this morning, 10 want to be repatriated from Iran. The largest number is from Israel — 297, 22 from Jordan, 231 from Bahrain, 586 from Dubai, 270 from Abu Dhabi.]
“Altogether that’s 1,416 Filipino nationals who have requested repatriation,” he added.
Marcos said the requests come from two groups: Filipino workers who had completed their contracts but were stranded by airport shutdowns, and residents seeking to leave high-risk areas.
“Unang-una, mayroon na tayong mga requests for repatriation. Halo-halo ito… dahil nagsara lahat nung airport, walang lumilipad na eroplano, na-stranded sila,” he said.
[Translation: First of all, we already have requests for repatriation. These are mixed… because all the airports were closed and no planes were flying, they were stranded.]
“At ‘yung isang grupo naman ay ‘yung mga tiga doon na gustong lumabas at umalis doon sa danger area,” he added.
[Translation: The other group consists of those who live there and want to leave and get out of the danger area.]
However, he said the security situation makes immediate evacuation dangerous.
“Ito ngayon ang problema. Ang problema, walang lumilipad na eroplano. At ‘yung mga airport ay tinatamaan na,” Marcos said.
[Translation: This is the problem now. No planes are flying, and airports are being hit.]
Even if the government could secure aircraft, he said, flights would not be allowed to land.
“They are all no-fly zones. This is a combat area,” he said.
Marcos also warned of the risk of accidental attacks on civilian aircraft amid heightened military operations.
“Kung commercial airline, baka magkamali din at baka they will attack it by mistake. So, that’s what we are worried about,” he said.
[Translation: If it’s a commercial airline, they might also make a mistake and attack it by accident. That’s what we are worried about.]
For now, the president urged Filipinos in affected areas to prioritize safety.
“Stay indoors, stay away from areas of danger,” he said.
The government continues to monitor the situation and is prepared to carry out repatriation once conditions permit safe travel.
