Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 19) — Another batch of Filipino repatriates from Israel is expected to arrive in Manila on Friday afternoon, officials said.
“Tomorrow may darating na second batch,” Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Administrator Honey Quiño told reporters on Thursday. “Sasagutin din ito ng OWWA, DMW (Department of Migrant Workers), DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), and other agencies. Same flight katulad kahapon.”
[Translation: There will be a second batch arriving tomorrow. The batch will be supported by OWWA, DMW, DFA, and other agencies. The flight will be arrive at the same time as yesterday’s.]
Sixteen Filipino repatriates, including a month-old baby, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from war-torn Israel on Wednesday afternoon.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said agencies could not give the exact number for now of Filipinos arriving in the country on Friday, at around 3:45 p.m. or 3:55 p.m.
During the first batch’s trip on Wednesday, De Vega said a Filipino was offloaded in the stopover in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates after feeling chest pains. He said the Filipino is now safe.
“Alam namin almost 20 ‘yan [We know it’s almost 20] but we will find out tomorrow,” he said. “Maaaring dumami ‘yan [The number may increase] in the next few days as more and more Filipinos from Israel possibly indicate they will go home muna [for now].”
Officials earlier said around a tenth of the 30,000 Filipinos in Israel are in conflict areas in the south.
Four Filipinos have been confirmed killed in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, while two are still missing in the Middle Eastern country.
