Lorenzana: Gov’t checking how many Pinoys in Middle East really want to come home

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday said the government is checking how many Filipinos in the Middle East prefer to come home amid the tensions in the region.

Lorenzana admitted that one of the challenges in ensuring the safety of Filipinos in the Middle East, especially in Iran and Iraq, is if they are really willing to go back to the Philippines.

"One of the problems, the challenge that we are facing is if the Filipinos might not want to come home. Like what happened in Libya before, the Libyan found out that the Filipinos were trying to go home, dinoble nila 'yung sweldo kaya ayaw ng umalis," Lorenzana told reporters.

"The Secretary of Foreign Affairs is already coordinating with our embassy in Baghdad to canvass who are willing to come home. Kapag alam na natin, then we can send transportations there," he added.

Aside from deploying air assets, Lorenzana said the Philippine government is looking at the possibility of hiring cruise ships to rescue affected Filipinos in the Middle East.

The Defense chief added that Filipinos can also be transferred first in other safer areas.

"Kung marami talaga ang gustong umuwi, maghire tayo ng cruise ship... diba 'yung cruise ship na malalaki it can accommodate 3,500 to 4,000 people..." Lorenzana said.

"Another option is kung kailangang ilikas muna talaga sila sa isang lugar na peaceful, they can go to Saudi Arabia, to Oman, which is a little bit far from the battlefield and then from there we can bring them home," he added.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he was thinking of calling for a special session of Congress to allocate standby funds to extend assistance to Filipino workers in the Middle East in case the situation there worsens.

Tension arose in the area following the killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a US strike. President Hassan Rouhani warned that Iran and the “free nations of the region” would take revenge on the killing of the general.

Meanwhile, both chambers of the Congress said they are ready if Duterte calls for a special session regarding the matter. — BM, GMA News