PBBM urges Pinoys in Lebanon, Israel to go home

Manila Bulletin

President Marcos has urged Filipinos in Lebanon and Israel to return to the country while flights are still available amid the tensions in the Middle East.  READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/8/pbbm-urges-pinoys-in-lebanon-israel-to-go-home

Transcript

00:00As we speak, I think of our Filipino Kababayan who are affected by the increasing tensions in the Middle East.

00:08I wish to reassure the public that the Philippine government is doing everything it can

00:14to ensure the safety of over 40,000 Filipino nationals in Lebanon and in Israel

00:21and to bring them home so that they have a place that they can feel safe in

00:27so long as they ask to come home.

00:30I am glad to report that no Filipino has been reported injured in the crisis that we hear about in the news

00:39and to the waves of attacks against Hezbollah targets in the past few days

00:44and the consequent Iranian reprisal against Israel.

00:48Our embassies have been coordinating with the Filipino community on this matter

00:53and working on securing exit papers and transportation for those returning.

01:01Of the 1,500 initial applicants for repatriation from Lebanon,

01:08a third have already gone home while another third, around 500, are still having their papers processed.

01:17The DFA will expedite this and OAH will be chartering the flights to bring them home.

01:24For the month of October, the DMW and OAH will be bringing home at least 162 distressed OFWs from Israel.

01:35Once they return to the Philippines, the DMW and OAH are ready to provide assistance to them.

01:42To our fellow countrymen in Lebanon and Israel,

01:45our government is ready to meet your needs.

01:51We hope that you will avail yourselves of our repatriation program while flights are available.

01:57In the meantime, heed the advisories of the Philippine Embassy and the Lebanese and Israeli governments.

02:05I expect the Secretaries of the DFA and the DMW and the Administrator of OAH to report to me with updates daily.

02:15The Philippines urges all parties to refrain from escalating the violence

02:20and to work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

02:24We emphasize the need to adhere to international humanitarian law,

02:29especially the principles of proportionality and distinction in response to security threats

02:36and to ensure the protection of civilians at all times.

02:41The Philippines will always stand for the principles of international law

02:45and the safety of Filipinos in the Philippines and overseas.

02:59For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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