By Adrian H. Halili, Chloe Mari A. Hufana, again Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Journalists
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Sunday said the Philippines remains vigilant and is willing to increase emergency measures to protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East as the conflict escalates following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
In a video message released on Sunday morning, Mr. Marcos said Tehran had attacked US bases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Oman and Israel, in retaliation for previous bombings by Tel Aviv and Washington, raising fears of an escalating war in the Middle East.
“We continue to monitor the situation to ensure that our people in the Middle East remain safe and well,” he said in Filipino.
The US and Israeli military launched a series of airstrikes against Iranian targets on Saturday, in what US President Donald J. Trump described as an effort to eliminate threats against the US and prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The strikes, which toppled Tehran’s leadership and hit the Middle Eastern country’s missile facilities and military command centers, came after talks between Washington and Tehran aimed at curbing the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
Mr. Marcos said that the vigilance efforts will continue as the situation changes, and that the conflict may continue.
“We continue to monitor the situation because we need continuous monitoring and it is not over yet. I believe this war will continue. However, based on our latest report, our people are in safe areas,” he added.
“They have moved to shelters where available, and are staying away from US bases to avoid potential danger. We will continue to provide updates as reports come in.”
Over the weekend, he ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Manpower (DMW) to take immediate steps to protect Filipinos in the region.
He also directed embassies and immigration agencies to determine the whereabouts of the tribesmen in the affected areas and ensure assistance where necessary.
Philippine embassies in Israel, Iran, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, and the UAE have issued separate advisories asking OFWs to seek safety amid the retaliatory strikes. The diplomats also warned citizens to avoid traveling amid the ongoing unrest in the region.
Also on Sunday, the Philippine military said it is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East, adding that the military is determined to launch an operation to help Filipinos in the region.
In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is “ready” to assist in the return of Filipinos to the affected areas and strengthen the government’s efforts to deal with the crisis if needed.
“The AFP remains committed to supporting the efforts of the entire government, assuring its readiness to assist whenever called upon to help protect the lives of Filipinos and maintain national security,” it said.
“Currently, the conflict is contained in the Middle East and there is no direct and credible threat to our territory and to Filipino and foreign citizens in the country,” the Department of National Defense (DND) said in a separate statement.
There are an estimated 2.41 million Filipinos living in Middle Eastern countries. More than 975,000 are stationed in the UAE, with the rest in Saudi Arabia (813,000), Qatar (250,000), and Kuwait (211,000). There are an estimated 800 Filipinos in Iran and 31,000 in Israel, according to DFA data.
Any protracted conflict in the region risks disrupting jobs, delaying the flow of wages and complicating the labor migration cycle, while potentially driving up oil prices that could bring inflation back home.
“Nevertheless, the DND and AFP are ready to respond to potential situations, including support for possible repatriation and connecting Filipinos to affected countries should the situation persist,” the Department of Defense said.
It added that protecting Filipinos overseas “remains a major concern,” especially amid “evolving security developments” in the Middle East.
The immediate repatriation of Filipinos from conflict-ridden countries among other efforts to protect OFWs has also been called for.
“Immediate repatriation and high alerts from our embassies should be there in case of emergencies that need to be addressed immediately,” said Renz Paolo B. Ramos, who teaches international relations at the University of Santo Tomas, in a Facebook Messenger interview.
Josue Raphael J. Cortez, professor of studies at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, noted that the government through the DFA and DMW should protect the Filipino people if the conflict continues.
“Prioritizing the affected Filipinos, and ensuring that their rights should not only be focused on Iran. Instead, we must also look to the safety and well-being of Filipinos in Israel and the US as retaliation may occur,” he added.
Senator Erwin T. Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, called on the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to support Filipinos whose deportations to the region have been delayed due to ongoing conflicts.
In a statement, the senator urged the agencies to “pay attention to the Filipinos who are about to leave the country for work but have to stay because of the ongoing unrest in the region.”
Mr. Tulfo said that the agencies should use their P2-billion budget under the Agarang Kalinga e Saklolo para sa mga OFWs and Needs Fund to support the affected Filipinos.
“We have to use all the remedies available to them not just financially, but also for their mental health.”
There appears to be no immediate consensus on the attack on Iran, as Israel launches another strike on Sunday, Reuters reports.
Mr. Trump said on Saturday that US forces will continue to strike Iranian targets “for a week,” or “as long as necessary” to achieve Washington’s goals of preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and bringing about a regime change in Iran’s clerical establishment.
