DOJ gives visa relief for affected foreigners amid Middle East conflict

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida announced that he signed an order granting visa relief to foreigners whose outbound flights were cancelled amid the conflict in the Middle East.

Under the order, beneficiaries of the relief are “passengers affected by the mass cancellation of outbound flights from the Philippines due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and other affected regions.”

The order included temporary visitors or tourists whose authorized stay expired during the disruption, as well as foreign nationals who were scheduled to depart but were unable to do so due to cancelled flights.

“We did this unilaterally for humanitarian reasons and premised on compassion so that their stay would no longer be a worry regarding the lack of legal basis in the Philippines,” he said.

Vida said he signed the order on March 9. However, this lasts only until April 1, prompting him to sign another order on Monday extending the relief to May 1.

“A number of foreign nationals remain stranded and have been unable to secure flights to return to their home countries. In light of this, the grant of visa relief is hereby extended until 01 May 2026,” the order read. —LDF, GMA News