No Pinoys hurt amid Israel-Gaza conflict —Bello

No Filipino worker has been reported hurt amid clashes between Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas terrorists in Gaza Strip, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Friday.

"There was no one hurt or injured among our Overseas Filipino Workers there," Bello said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

Bello said there is just one OFW who sought assistance from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) because a bomb almost hit the home of the OFW's employer.

"She got afraid due to the incident, and she has since been transferred to our POLO office's shelter," Bello added.

In addition, Bello assured Filipinos that a rapid rescue team has already been deployed in case the conflict escalates.

"This is in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs because it is them who makes the call on alert level," Bello said.

"If it reaches Alert Level 4, then that means forced repatriation. They (Filipinos) will have to repatriated whether they like it or not," Bello added.

Bello, however, said Filipinos there have not asked to be repatriated at this point given that they are well treated in the country.

"They are well taken care of and are enjoying competitive salaries that could even be higher than mine," he said. --KBK, GMA News