Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10) — The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan has recommended that Gaza be placed under Alert Level 3 to allow for the voluntary repatriation of Filipinos in the area.
At a briefing on Tuesday, DFA Undersecretary Ed de Vega said there are about 137 Filipinos in Gaza, who are married to Palestinian nationals.
“Our embassy in Amman, which has jurisdiction over Gaza, has recommended na ilagay na ‘yung Gaza to Alert Level 3, which is voluntary repatriation. So, hindi pa mandatory. This will be cleared with the President,” he said.
[Translation: Our embassy in Amman, which has jurisdiction over Gaza, has recommended placing Gaza under Alert Level 3, which is voluntary repatriation. So, it’s not yet mandatory. This will be cleared with the President.]However, de Vega recognized there were challenges on how to move out Filipinos from the area.
“Only issue is…how to repatriate them because that’s what we’re working on diplomatically. It’s not a simple matter na magpapadala tayo ng eroplano, magha-hire ng…charter ng eroplano, kasi wala ngang flights or ships. The normal way to get out of Gaza is through Israel,” he said.
[Translation: Only issue is…how to repatriate them because that’s what we’re working on diplomatically. It’s not a simple matter of just sending a plane, chartering a plane because there are no flights or ships. The normal way to get out of Gaza is through Israel.]
RELATED: Embassy wants to suspend all travel from PH to Israel
In the latest advisory from the Presidential Communications Office, the Philippine Embassy in Israel said Alert Level 1 remains over the country.
While the situation in Israel remains tense in certain areas, the Israeli security forces have regained control of the affected areas in the South as of 12:00 a.m of Monday, 09 October 2023,” the advisory said, adding there is no prohibition in movement in Israel except in specific areas of conflict which it said was within the vicinity of the Gaza border.
