Most Filipinos in Lebanon 'feel safe' despite Israel-Hezbollah war —PCO

Many Filipinos in Lebanon are refusing to leave the country amid armed offensive between Israeli forces and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, Presidential Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez said Thursday.

Chavez made the announcement amid Lebanon being under Alert Level 3, which mains voluntary repatriation for Filipinos there.

"Most of Filipinos there are married to locals or household service workers employed by Christians and Sunni. They feel that they are safe since they are not the target, which is the Shiite Muslims of Hezbollah," Chavez told Super Radyo DZBB.

Chavez, however, emphasized that the Philippine government will be ready to provide aid to Filipinos in Lebanon who want to be repatriated amid the war.

He added that there are at least 10,000 OFWs in Lebanon.

"We are preparing the execution of repatriation plan for the Filipinos in Lebanon," he said.

"From Beirut, we will be bringing them to Cyprus. From there, we are looking at chartered flights to the Philippines," Chavez added.

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday 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.

Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Raymond Balatbat told Marcos that all available measures will be exhausted to expedite the exit clearances to enable the government to proceed with the repatriation.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News