PH to get Filipinos out of Israel by land, sea amid Iranian airstrikes

The Philippine Embassy in Israel is planning to repatriate Filipinos there by land or sea since the airspace of Israel and Jordan are currently closed due to the ongoing conflict in the region with Iran, Philippine Ambassador in Tel Aviv Aileen Mendiola-Rau said.

- By RAYMUND ANTONIO and AARON RECUENCO

In an interview with GMA News on Saturday, June 14, the envoy shared that they are checking the ways on how to repatriate the Filipinos in Israel since aircrafts couldn’t take off from Israel and Jordan.

“So, we're looking at other possibilities in case lumala pa ang sitwasyon (the situation worsens). We're coming up with plans to bring our people out, not by air but probably by land towards Jordan or Egypt. Iko-consider din natin ang (We will also consider) repatriation by sea,” Mendiola-Rau said.

The embassy, she furthered, had already convened a crisis management team since Israel attacked Iran last Friday.

They are currently reviewing the contingency plan and monitoring the current situation.

An advisory by the Philippine Embassy in Israel also advised Filipinos there “to follow the IDF Home Front Command's security guidelines and the Embassy's safety advisories, as well as to be alert and ready to act.”

“The safety and well-being of Filipinos in Israel remain the Embassy’s top priority. Ambassador Mendiola is personally overseeing efforts to monitor the situation, coordinate with Israeli and Philippine authorities, and ensure that timely advisories and support are extended to our kababayan," the post read.

The ambassador also told GMA News that the embassy has purchased essential goods that can be prepositioned to different locations in Israel to prepare for a possible repatriation.

The embassy also checked the status of the shelters and renewed its arrangements with the facilities so Filipinos have somewhere to go if the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates further.

The embassy's plan follows the exchange of missile attacks between Israel and Iran, which Israel started on Friday, citing Iran's alleged plan to annihilate Israel.

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