Deported Pinay, Israel-born child ‘on the way’ to PHL – Israeli Embassy

Filipina migrant worker Rosemarie Perez and her Israeli-born son who were facing deportation are "already on their way" to the Philippines, the Embassy of Israel in Manila told GMA News Online on Tuesday.

"The OFW was illegally staying in Israel for 12 years, after the expiration of her working visa. The case was scrutinized by the Supreme Court of Israel, and has been approved," the embassy said in a separate official statement.

The embassy underscored that Israel "greatly appreciates" the contribution of Filipino workers, but immigrant laws were in place and must be complied with.

"A foreign worker is allowed to live and work in Israel up to five years. It is expected from every foreign worker to abide the law and to leave the country upon the expiration of his working permit," read the statement.

Last week, Perez and her 13-year-old son were arrested for illegally staying in Israel. 

On Sunday, they were supposedly brought to the Ben Gurion International Airport for deportation, but Beth Franco of the United Children of Israel (UCI) association said that the two were "later taken off the plane" to await a final decision. 

Meanwhile, demonstrations were held in Tel Aviv protesting the policy of deporting the Israeli-born children of migrants. 

In June, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs asked the Israeli government to "treat overstaying Filipinos in a humane and sensitive manner, since children may be involved."

The Israeli Embassy in Manila said that humanitarian considerations had been factored in.

"Driven by humanitarian considerations, Population Immigration and Border Authority (PIBA) allows the children of the overstaying workers who are enrolled in schools to stay in the country until the end of the school year in Israel, at the end of June," the embassy explained. — DVM, GMA News