OFWs in Iran, Iraq say they are fine after missile attack

Overseas Filipino Workers in Iran and Iraq on Wednesday said they are doing well after Iran fired ballistic missiles at two United States bases in Iraq.

Interviewed on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, part-time housekeeper Gracia Lee Espino who works in Irbil, one of the two areas targeted by Iran, said she and her fellow Filipinos there are safe.

Espino also said they heard the explosions.

“Tulog na ko no’n then nagising lang ako kasi parang may naramdaman ako na sumabog… Nag-reach out kami sa ibang kababayan namin and then 'yun, pare-pareho po naming naramdaman,” she recalled.

Espino expressed her gratitude to the Philippine Embassy in Iraq for their efforts to ensure the safety of the Filipino community there.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III earlier announced the mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon. 

Although hesitant to abandon her job, Espino said she will cooperate with authorities.

“It’s not that easy para i-give up ‘yung [trabaho] namin dito sa tagal na namin na namumuhay dito,” she said.

“Kahit pa sabihin na karamihan ay hindi stable ang trabaho dito, at least nakakakuha pa rin po ng part-time jobs na nakakatulong sa 'min kesa sa umuwi ng Pilipinas. Kung darating po ‘yung point na kailangan na pong umuwi is uuwi naman po kami.”

Meanwhile, travel agent Naufar Ganih who lives in Iran said they are also doing fine.

“My family, we are very fine. ‘Yung mga kaguluhan na ‘yan, ang nagpapagulo lang ‘yung mga media. We are safe. In fact we are fine, we are peaceful. So nothing to worry so far,” he said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News