DMW: 50 Filipinos set to be repatriated from Israel in May

Around 50 Filipinos based in Israel are scheduled to return to the Philippines next month amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, Migrant Workers officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac said Thursday.

Cacdac said during a House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs hearing that the Filipinos are slated to arrive in the Philippines on May 9.

He, however, clarified that these Filipinos already signified their intentions to get repatriated even before Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel on late Saturday (Sunday, PH time).

“In light of what happened last weekend, it’s difficult these days to now say whether or not they are coming home because of what happened last weekend or because of events prior to what happened last weekend,” Cacdac said.

The DMW Undersecretary also said that they are always open to accepting more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who wish to get repatriated amid the tensions in the Middle East countries.

The Philippine government has maintained its Alert Level 2 declaration for Israel following the retaliatory strike of Iran over the weekend. This means that further deployments of OFWs there are restricted.

Alert Level 2 is issued if there are real threats to the life, security, and property of Filipinos arising from internal disturbance, instability, or external threat.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised Alert Level 2 in Israel in October last year following the attack of Palestinian militant group Hamas. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News