Bulacan officials stranded in Dubai amid US-Iran conflict

Some 12 local officials from Bulacan are currently stranded in Dubai amid tensions between the United States and Iran, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla Jr. said on Wednesday.

At a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Remulla said 11 vice mayors and one mayor left for Dubai last week in their personal capacity.

“Umalis sila Wednesday last week. May travel authority naman. Mga vice mayors from Bulacan. Parang labing isa sila. So ngayon, stuck sila sa Dubai,” Remulla said.

(They left Wednesday last week. They had travel authority. They were vice mayors from Bulacan. There were about eleven of them. So now, they are stuck in Dubai.)

“Personal capacity sila doon. Well, ayun na nakalagay sa application nila. Pinayagan namin. As long as no government funds are used, papayagan naman sila,” he added.

(They are there in their personal capacity. Well, that is what was stated in their application. We allowed it. As long as no government funds are used, they will be allowed.)

While the 11 vice mayors have obtained travel authority, Remulla said the DILG will verify if the mayor also has the same requirement.

“May travel authority sila. Labing-isa ang vice mayor, ang alam ko. May isang mayor yata na kasama. Yung mayor, parang walang travel authority. Titignan pa namin kung totoo. I-verify pa namin. Pero parang wala siya,” he said.

(They have travel authority. There are eleven vice mayors, as far as I know. There is one mayor with them. The mayor, it seems like, doesn't have travel authority. We'll see if it's true. We'll verify it. But it seems like they don't.)

The Bulacan officials have yet to formally request assistance from the Philippine government, according to Remulla. —VAL, GMA Integrated News