Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 3) — The Philippines offered assistance to transport ASEAN nationals trapped in war-torn Gaza through the Rafah border crossing once it is opened, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday.
“Maraming Thai, may mga Vietnamese, merong mga iba’t iba so sabi namin kung sino mauna magtulungan na lang tayo,” Marcos said in a press briefing.
[Translation: There are many Thais, there are Vietnamese, there are others as well. We agreed that whoever goes first, we’ll just work together…]
“It looks like we are the ones there first because ang presence naman ng mga Pinoy sa area [the Filipinos’ presence in the area] is much higher than the others,” the president added.
Marcos also said buses are already in place right outside the Rafah crossing, while the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt is on standby.
READ: 2 Filipinos among first foreigners allowed to exit Gaza
The border was briefly opened last month to allow a convoy of trucks carrying aid to enter Gaza.
