No more mandatory repatriation for Pinoys in Iran, Lebanon —Bello

Filipinos in Iran and Lebanon are no longer covered by the mandatory repatriation imposed by the Philippine government amid the chaos in the Middle East, according to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Thursday.

"Initially, the level of alert for Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon are the same—[Alert Level] 4. Although it was unofficial, I was informed yesterday that the alert level in Lebanon was put down to level 2 and I understand that there's no more alert level in Iran," Bello said in an interview on ANC.

He, however, added that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will not be processing any deployment application to the two countries for the meantime.

Meanwhile, the mandatory evacuation for OFWs in Iraq is still in place, according to Bello. A deployment ban is also in effect.

On Wednesday, Alert Level 4 has been raised in Iraq after the death of top Iranian military general Qassem Soleimani in a US airstrike sparked turmoil in the Middle East.

Bello said that there is no mandatory repatriation yet in Saudi Arabia. Around 2.5 million Filipinos are currently residing and working in Middle East countries, according to him. —Dona Magsino/KBK, GMA News