Marcos orders mobilization of assets for repatriation of Pinoys in Middle East

VIENTIANE — At the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. directed concerned government agencies to mobilize all available assets to ensure the safe and timely repatriation of Filipinos who are affected by the crisis in the Middle East.

The Philippine President convened an online meeting with some Cabinet secretaries to discuss the situation in the Middle East.

On Wednesday, the Presidential Communications Office said present in the Zoom meeting were Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año.

In his speech during the meet and greet with the Filipino community in Lao PDR, Marcos mentioned that he has been talking with concerned officials about the repatriation of Filipinos who have been affected by the hostile situation in Israel and Lebanon.

''Kaya’t ngayon lang – kanina nga ay pinag-uusapan namin kung papaano namin gagawin upang maiuwi ang ating mga kababayan na nasa Lebanon, ‘yung iba nasa Israel. Nagigitna – nandoon sila sa lugar na medyo delikado kaya’t palagay – dahil talagang nagkaka-giyera na doon,'' Marcos had said.

(We are talking about the repatriation of our fellow Filipinos in Lebanon... some are in Israel. They are in those areas that are dangerous because of the war there.)

In the meeting with Cabinet officials, Marcos also assured Filipinos that the government is on top of the situation amid the ongoing crisis, saying that his administration prioritizes the safety and welfare of Filipinos in the region.

Filipinos in Israel have been advised to avoid several areas in the Middle East, including parts of Israel and Lebanon because of the increasing tensions in the area.

The advice came after Israel dropped bombs on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip in retaliation for Hezbollah rockets that landed in Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city located in Northern Israel, over the weekend.

According to Israel, their objective was the safe return of Israeli residents to their home in Northern Israel. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News