By Adrian H. Halili, Chloe Mari A. Hufana, and Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporters
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Sunday said the Philippines is on heightened alert and ready to escalate contingency measures to guard overseas Filipino employees (OFWs) within the Middle East as conflict escalates following the US and Israel’s attack on Iran.
In a video message released on Sunday morning, Mr. Marcos said Tehran had struck US bases within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Oman and Israel, as retaliation for earlier bombings by Tel Aviv and Washington, raising fears of a widening war across the Middle East.
“We proceed to watch the situation to be certain that our countrymen within the Middle East remain protected and in good condition,” he said in Filipino.
US and Israeli forces launched a salvo of airstrikes on Iranian targets on Saturday, in what US President Donald J. Trump described as an effort to eliminate threats against America and forestall Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The strikes, which decapitated Tehran’s leadership and hitting the Middle Eastern nation’s ballistic missile facilities and military command centers, got here just after talks between Washington and Tehran geared toward constraining the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
Mr. Marcos said monitoring efforts would proceed because the situation evolves, noting the conflict may proceed further.
“We proceed to watch the situation since it requires ongoing vigilance and just isn’t yet over. I consider this war will proceed. Nonetheless, based on our latest report, our countrymen are in protected locations,” he added.
“They’ve moved to bomb shelters where available, they usually are staying away from US bases to avoid potential danger. We are going to proceed to supply updates as reports are available in.”
Over the weekend, he ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Employees (DMW) to take immediate steps to safeguard Filipinos within the region.
He also directed embassies and migrant agencies to find out the whereabouts of nationals in affected areas and to make sure assistance where needed.
The Philippine Embassies in Israel, Iran, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, and the UAE have issued separate advisories calling on OFWs to hunt safety amid ongoing retaliatory missile strikes. The embassies have also warned residents to avoid traveling amid the continued regional tension.
Also on Sunday, the Philippine military said it’s closely tracking developments within the Middle East, adding that the armed forces are prepared to mount humanitarian missions to assist Filipinos within the region.
In a press release, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it “stands ready” to assist in repatriating Filipinos in affected areas and bolster the federal government’s crisis response efforts if called upon.
“The AFP stays committed to its supporting role in whole-of-government efforts, ensuring readiness to help at any time when called upon to assist safeguard Filipino lives and uphold national security,” it said.
“For the time being, the conflict is contained throughout the Middle East and there is no such thing as a credible direct threat to our territory and Filipino and foreign residents within 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. Greater than 975,000 are stationed within the UAE, while others are in Saudi Arabia (813,000), Qatar (250,000), and Kuwait (211,000). There are about 800 Filipinos in Iran and 31,000 in Israel, based on data from the DFA.
Any prolonged conflict within the region risks disrupting jobs, delaying wage flows and complicating deployment cycles, while potentially driving up oil prices that would stoke inflation back home.
“Nonetheless, the DND and the AFP are ready to reply to probable contingencies, including possible repatriation support and crisis response coordination of Filipinos in affected countries should conditions warrant further motion,” the Defense department said.
It added that protecting Filipinos overseas “stays a paramount concern,” especially amid “rapidly evolving security developments” within the Middle East.
The immediate repatriation of Filipinos in conflict-stricken countries amongst other efforts to secure OFWs has also been urged.
“Immediate repatriation and heightened alerts from our embassies needs to be in place should there be emergencies that must be urgently addressed,” Renz Paolo B. Ramos, who teaches diplomacy on the University of Santo Tomas, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.
Josue Raphael J. Cortez, diplomacy lecturer at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, noted that the federal government through the DFA and DMW should place safeguards for Filipinos should the conflict further escalate.
“The prioritization of affected Filipinos, in addition to ensuring their rights shouldn’t merely be focused on Iran. As an alternative, we must also look into the security and wellbeing of Filipinos in Israel and the US on condition that retaliations may transpire,” he added.
Senator Erwin T. Tulfo, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on the DMW and the Overseas Employees Welfare Administration to support Filipinos whose deployments to the region have been delayed as a result of ongoing tensions.
In a press release, the senator called on the agencies to “give attention to Filipinos who were about to depart the country for work but had to remain as a result of the continued unrest within the region.”
Mr. Tulfo said that the agencies should utilize its P2-billion budget under the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan Fund to support affected Filipinos.
“We must always exhaust all of the remedies available for them not only on the financial aspect, but additionally for his or her mental health.”
There gave the impression to be no immediate let-up within the attacks on Iran, with Israel launching one other wave of strikes on Sunday, Reuters reported.
Mr. Trump said on Saturday that American forces would proceed striking Iranian targets “throughout the week,” or “so long as needed” to attain Washington’s objectives of stopping Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and ushering a regime change in Iran’s clerical establishment.