DFA places Lebanon under Alert Level 3

The Department of Foreign Affairs placed Lebanon under Alert Level 3 (voluntary repatriation) on Saturday, according to DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega. 

The department earlier announced the possibility of raising the alert level amid the rising tension between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah due to Hamas attacks.

"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," said de Vega on a Dobol B TV interview earlier in the day.

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

Rockets fired from southern Lebanon prompted artillery fire response from Israel, placing overseas Filipino workers in Lebanon under possible risk.

"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," he 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.)

The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon has already urged Filipinos living near the southern area of the country to do a preemptive evacuation.

Over 17,500 Filipinos are living in Lebanon, with 67 residing at the border where Hamas’ ally Hezbollah is stationed, the DFA said.

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

(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]. 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.)  —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News