PH 'gravely concerned' on heightening tensions in the Middle East

VIENTIANE — President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. expressed concern anew on the heightening tensions in the Middle East as he called for a peaceful resolution on the issues.

''The Philippines as well is gravely concerned over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the increasing tensions in the Middle East region, particularly in the Lebanon,'' Marcos said during the ASEAN-East Asia Summit on Friday.

''We urge all parties to refrain from escalating the violence and to work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict,'' the President added.

According to Marcos, the Philippines supports a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully in mutual security.

To recall, 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.

According to Israel, their objective was the safe return of Israeli residents to their home in Northern Israel.

Earlier, Marcos 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 even convened an online meeting with some Cabinet secretaries to discuss the situation in the Middle East amid the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

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.

In the Philippines, the Department of Migrant Workers said 213 Filipinos in Lebanon have already secured their travel documents and are now ready to head back home.

“Patuloy ang ating mga kababayan na nagkakaroon ng preparasyon at flight bookings pauwi. May mga 213 na travel ready, as of this hour,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac told Unang Balita in an interview.

(Our countrymen continue to have preparations and flight bookings to go home. There are 213 who are travel ready, as of this hour.)

Around 20 Filipinos are expected to return to the Philippines this weekend, according to Cacdac. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News