President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to find all Filipinos in Israel.
Marcos’ order came after the airstrikes carried out by the terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza strip.
According to Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil, the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Israel continue to communicate to ensure the safety of Filipinos affected by the unrest in that country.
“The government is closely coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Israel to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos affected in the ongoing conflict,” Garafil said.
In the statement of Department of Foreign (DFA) Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega, currently no one has been reported dead or injured among the Filipinos and they are in good condition.
“They are in touch with the Filipinos, so far… there are no news of casualties,” De Vega said.
It is said that about 30,000 Filipinos in Israel are primarily housekeepers and caregivers, and many are in Tel Aviv, Haifa, about 70 km away from the Gaza Strip.
Find all Filipinos affected by war in Israel – President Marcos
De Vega further clarified that the terrorists did not invade the said area, but the missile was hitting it a little, so they continued to monitor.
It is said that all the Filipinos there are worried but continue to follow the policy of the Israeli government and the Philippines, and they also stay at home where they are close to the bomb shelter where all the buildings in the said country have it.
The DMW has also opened a hotline and Viber and WhatsApp hotline numbers that will receive calls and questions from OFWs and the Pinoy community who need help from the government.
Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. extended his sympathy and condolences to Israel for the families that lost their loved ones in the ongoing attack on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas.
At the same time, Marcos said that the Philippines condemned such attacks, especially on civilian populations.
“The Philippines condemns the attacks, especially against civilian populations,” according to the Malacañang statement.
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