DFA considering placing Lebanon under Alert Level 3 —exec

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is considering officially placing Lebanon under Alert Level 3 (voluntary repatriation), an official said Saturday.

"We are at de facto Alert Level 3. Well, Alert Level 2 [now] sa Lebanon pero we are considering Alert Level 3," DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

"Kailangan lang pirmahan ni [DFA] Secretary [Enrique] Manalo pero darating pa either tomorrow or Monday. As far as the Embassy is concerned, the DFA is concerned, we are on voluntary repatriation," he added.

(It just needs the signature of Secretary Manalo but he will be arriving either tomorrow or Monday.)

Tensions are rising between Israel and its neighbor Lebanon following attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas in southern Israel.

Rockets have been fired from southern Lebanon onto Israel, prompting Israel to respond with artillery fire, Reuters reported.

"Inaakyat natin ang alert level sa Lebanon kasi hindi niyo masabi [kung ano ang mangyayari]. Nagkaroon na ng giyera ang Lebanon at least two times na... Bago umabot doon, binibigyan nating babala ang mga kababayan natin to get ready to go. May voluntary repatriation system na tayo," de Vega said.

(We are considering elevating the alert level in Lebanon because you can't say [what will happen next]. There have been at least two wars already in the past in Lebanon. Before it gets to that point, we are urging our countrymen to get ready to go. We have a voluntary repatriation system.)

"May 67 na Pilipinong naninirahan sa south Lebanon doon sa may border... At doon nanggagaling ang Hezbollah, mga ally ng Hamas 'yan," de Vega said.

(There are 67 Filipinos living in south Lebanon near the border [with Israel]. And that is where the Hezbollah come from. They are allies of Hamas.)

The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon has urged Filipinos in the country's southern area to leave as tensions flare along the border with Israel.

De Vega said the Filipinos living in southern Lebanon have already evacuated to other parts of Lebanon.

The DFA official said there are 17,500 Filipinos living in Lebanon.

"Sa experience natin, kapag nagre-repatriate diyan sa area, mga half lang ang umaalis... After a year, babalik na no," de Vega said.

(In our experience, when we conduct repatriation in that area, only half [of Filipinos] leave. After a year, they go back.)

"Sana kung ngayon pa lang, umuwi na. Bukas ang airport. Wala pang giyera. Hindi pa nilulusob ng Israel [ang Gaza]," he said.

(We hope they would go home now while the airport is still open and there is no war. Israel has not yet started its ground assault [on Gaza].)

However, De Vega said the situation in Lebanon might escalate.

"Maari pong [mag-escalate] kasi kung pumasok ang Israel sa Gaza, magagalit ang mga neighbors ng Israel. It's not expected na 'yung buong region magkaka-giyera. Hindi interest ng Arab leaders na magkaroon ng giyera," he said.

(It might escalate because if Israel enters Gaza, its neighbors will get angry. It's not expected that the whole region will have war. It is not in the interest of Arab leaders to have war.)

"Pero doon sa Gaza, sa West Bank, at sa Lebanon — 'yung talagang border ng Israel, it could go up, so Alert Level 3," de Vega added.

(But in Gaza, West Bank and in Lebanon, particularly the border with Israel, tensions could go up, so Alert Level 3 [is necessary].) —KG, GMA Integrated News