Senators call for peace, safety of Filipinos amid Israel-Iran conflict

Senators on Monday called on the Philippine government and concerned agencies to ensure the safety of the Filipinos living and working in the Middle East amid the rising tensions in the region. 

For her part, Senator Risa Hontiveros urged Malacañang to avoid complacency and to prepare for the potential impact of armed conflict on millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East.

“The whole of government must prepare measures to safeguard OFWs in the region. Milyon-milyon ang Pilipinong maapektuhan kung sakaling lumala ang krisis sa Middle East. There is no room for complacency. Ano na nga ba ang kahandaan ng pamahalaan? May plano na nga ba para iligtas ang napakaraming OFW?” Hontiveros asked. 

(Millions of Filipinos will be affected if the conflict in the Middle East worsens. There is no room for complacency. What are the preparations of the government? Is there a plan to save so many OFWs?) 

She thus called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to make sure that contingency plans are in place and that there are sufficient resources for mass evacuation, transport, and care of OFWs if needed. 

Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada urged the DFA and other relevant agencies to continuously reassure Filipinos in the Middle East that the Philippine government is prepared to provide them all necessary assistance and protection.

“Diplomacy should always prioritize tact over aggression, and dialogue must take precedence over hostility. I stand with those who strongly advocate for restraint, open communication, and the de-escalation of the armed conflict between Israel and Iran,” Estrada said in a statement.

Senator Joel Villanueva said that Filipinos in the Middle East should coordinate closely with the DFA, DMW, and concerned Philippine embassies to facilitate repatriation. He also called on the agencies to prioritize any requests with urgency and compassion. 

“We want our kababayans in Israel and Iran to be safe and secure. Our government agencies, particularly the [DFA] and the [DMW], are responding to repatriation requests from our fellow Filipinos in these areas,” he said. 

Senator Bong Go also said the DFA and DMW should have 24/7 government assistance to protect overseas Filipinos. 

“Dapat importante safe po ang ating mga kababayan na naiipit sa giyera po. Dapat po’y tugunan ito ng gobyerno. Kung kailangang ibalik dito, ibalik,” Go said. “Pero importante muna ang kanilang kalagayan, safe sila at mayroong peace of mind ang kanilang pamilya.”

(Our countrymen who are stuck in the war must be safe. The government should address this. If they have to repatriate, then do so… But their condition is important first, they should be safe and their family should have peace of mind.) 

US airstrikes

Senator-elect Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, meanwhile, aired concerns following the United States (US) forces’ attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran as it may trigger a possible world war. 

The incoming senator said he trusts that Philippine authorities have evacuation and contingency plans in place for more than two million Filipinos deployed in the Middle East who may be affected by the conflict.

“US President Trump’s unprecedentedly dangerous move to 'obliterate' Iran’s highly fortified nuclear facilities, if not as factual as he had described it could trigger a world war on a scale nobody has ever witnessed or read about,” Lacson said. 

Over the weekend, Senate committee on foreign relations chairperson Senator Imee Marcos said that the involvement of the US in the Israel-Iran conflict “signals a significant escalation of hostilities and elevates the risk of a broader conflict within the region.”

She appealed to the international community to prioritize peace, avoid further escalation of the hostilities, and seek every diplomatic channel available to put an end to the crisis.

“I am deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of millions of Filipinos in the region who may be caught in the cross-fire and whose jobs may now be in peril,” Marcos said.

“I am also troubled by the effects of the conflict on our economy as fuel prices continue to surge, affecting not only the transport sector, but also the agricultural, manufacturing, and industrial sectors of the Philippines, among many others,” she added. 

Senate committee on migrant workers chairperson Senator Raffy Tulfo also encouraged affected Filipinos to evacuate and leave crucial areas to ensure their safety. 

“Nakahanda ang buong puwersa ng ating gobyerno upang tumulong sa inyo pabalik ng bansa at makapagsimulang muli, kaya hinihikayat ko po na kayo ay makipag-ugnayan sa ating mga opisyales at ahensiya. Dasal ko rin po ang kaligtasan ninyong lahat, maging ng mga opisyal na tumutulong sa ating mga OFWs,” Tulfo said. 

(The government is ready to help you return to the country and start over, so I encourage you to contact our officials and agencies. I also pray for the safety of all of you, even the officials who help our OFWs.) 

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Monday that Filipinos in the US should be on the lookout for any eventuality that may occur following the US airstrikes vs Iran. 

The Philippines has called for de-escalation of tensions and called on concerned parties to pursue diplomacy after the United States struck Iran's nuclear sites over the weekend.

The DFA said the country, which has a huge presence of workers in the Middle East, is "greatly concerned" over the developments in the region "in these last few hours."

Trump has said the US "obliterated" Iran's key nuclear facilities — Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow — and called the strikes a "spectacular military success." Iran, on the other hand, vowed to retaliate. –NB, GMA Integrated News