Palace says repatriation of OFWs from Middle East continues

Malacañang said Tuesday the government continues its process of repatriating Filipinos amid the ongoing tension in the Middle East.

In a press briefing in New York City, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro was asked about criticisms that the government is not repatriating OFWs soon enough like the other countries.

Castro explained that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. was concerned that Filipinos might get caught in friendly fires or the aircraft transporting them might get hit by air missiles. 

''Inalala po ng Pangulo ang maaaring danger kung agad-agad po maililipad ang ating mga kababayan kung patuloy po ang – sa pagbobomba o ‘yung mga airs – attacks ‘no sa pagitan ng mga bansa na kinapalolooban po sa Middle East,'' Castro said.

(The President was concerned about the danger if the Filipinos will immediately be repatriated since there were air attacks in the Middle East.)

''Pero maliban po diyan, March 3 hanggang ngayon ay napakita na po ng DMW na halos 400 po na OFWs at may ilan pong mga dependents ang naipauwi na po sa ating bansa. At ‘yan po ay winelcome din po ng DMW at ng OWWA,'' she added.

(But beginning March 3 until now, the DMW was able to show that almost 400 OFWS and their dependents were already repatriated in the country. They were welcomed by DMW and OWWA.) 

Castro said OFWs from Israel and Dubai are also expected to arrive in the country in the coming days.

There were also chartered flights, which will be funded through the Emergency Repatriation Fund of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), according to Castro.

''By air, may commercial flights po, booking OFWs on Emirates Airlines flight... fly out of Dubai. Chartering from Riyadh, a chartered repatriation flight to Philippine from Saudi Arabia. Earliest possible departure is March 14, 2026,'' she said.

Castro earlier slammed Vice President Sara Duterte for saying that the government could simply send an aircraft to the Middle East to bring home OFWs amid the ongoing conflict there.

She said the government cannot send air assets in the region given that the airspace was shut down due to the tension.

Castro added that the President immediately ordered for the repatriation of Filipinos affected by the Middle East tension. —AOL, GMA Integrated News