Government Execs stranded in Israel back in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The 21 government officials who were stranded in Israel finally arrived in Manila yesterday after a grueling journey by land to Jordan and later to Dubai, from where they took a commercial flight home.

The officials – in two groups – were concluding their respective study tours when Israel came under successive missile attacks from Iran, forcing the cancellation of flights. Iran said it was retaliating against Israel’s attacks on its nuclear facilities.

The Israeli embassy said the delegates from local government units and the Department of Agriculture safely arrived at 5:55 a.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla personally welcomed the officials at the NAIA Terminal 3.

Some of them were visibly emotional and hugged Remulla as they stepped out of the plane.

“We are just happy that they are safely home. They had gone through a lot,” Remulla said.

“We were monitoring them 24/7 until they safely arrived,” he said in a statement.

It was Remulla who signed the local officials’ travel orders.

“Just to be clear, they’re not in the path of danger. The closest was 10 kilometers away, but of course they went through a lot of stress,” he told reporters in English and Filipino.

Remulla emphasized the officials received no special treatment, as they had to take a four-hour bus ride to Amman, Jordan and commercial flights to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and then to the Philippines.

No rescue mission

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the departure from Israel of the 21 officials was not a rescue mission but a result of coordination with Israel officials.

“The reason why they are home is because their scholarship was from June 9 to June 20, so they really have to go home under their Israeli sponsorship,” he said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

“It’s not because we deliberately said ‘let’s rescue the stranded officials.’ We were just coordinating with the Israelis who were the ones hosting them,” he pointed out.

Remulla stressed the main objective was to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel and Iran who want to return to the Philippines.

There are about 1,180 Filipinos in Iran and 30,000 in Israel, De Vega said.

“We have to find ways of making sure those who wish to come home can be assisted by the national government,” he said in Filipino.

Among the officials who arrived yesterday were Barugo, Leyte Mayor Aron Balais and Lupi, Camarines Sur Mayor Lilian Matamarosa.

Meanwhile, the four agriculture officials were Assistant Secretary Benjamin Albarece, Philippine Carabao Center executive director Liza Battad and National Dairy Authority officials Rowena Bautista and Angelica Escanilla.

“We are happy that all of you are safely back with your families and the DA family,” Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.

He said they left for Israel last June 14 for a “week-long study mission” that was “part of the DA’s broader efforts to explore best practices in dairy production and technology, aiming to strengthen the Philippines’ own dairy sector.”

Their flights were cancelled when Israel came under Iranian attack.

“The DA officials were housed at Hotel Kibbutz Shefayim in central Israel, where they endured multiple missile and bomb alerts during their extended stay. Despite the tense conditions, the Philippine embassy in Israel and MASHAV – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation – worked swiftly to ensure their safe and prompt repatriation,” the DA said.

Prompt action

In a statement, the Israeli embassy noted that in response to a nuclear weapons threat from Iran and the latter’s continuous missile attacks, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion – a wide-scale defensive campaign aimed at neutralizing existential threats to the Jewish state and its population.

“Despite the horrific missile attacks against hospitals, universities and civilian population, including Filipinos, the government of Israel upheld its commitment to international cooperation by protecting and repatriating two official Filipino delegations who were in Israel as guests of the Israeli government for study programs,” the embassy said.

The first group comprised 17 ranking local government officials including mayors, vice mayors and members of Congress who visited Israel from June 9 to 16 under the auspices of MASHAV.

The program they attended tackled urban agriculture as a strategic tool for food security, resilience and sustainable development in urban settings.

The officials were to take part later in MUNI EXPO 2025, Israel’s flagship international conference for municipal innovation.

The embassy said the second group, from the Department of Agriculture, was composed of four senior professionals who took part in a hands-on educational program on dairy farming from June 7 to 14.

“When the security situation deteriorated and Iran has launched its deadly missile attacks, Israel acted immediately. Within 48 hours of receiving final clearance, both delegations were safely evacuated via Jordan.”

“The effort was led by the embassy of Israel in Manila, in close coordination with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, the Israeli embassy in Amman and in coordination with the relevant authorities of the Republic of the Philippines and the Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv.”

Throughout the emergency, Israel ensured the safety and wellbeing of all participants by providing shelter in protected areas and offering continued educational activities to boost morale, the embassy stated.

Israel shouldered costs

The Israeli government covered the costs of the Filipino’ stay and repatriation including food, transport, flight tickets and even hotel accommodations in Jordan, which “support reflects Israel’s deep commitment to its Filipino partners and the value it places on people-to-people ties.”

“The delegates came to Israel as our guests and as part of a long-standing friendship and partnership between our two countries. In moments of crisis, true friendship is measured by action. We made sure our guests were cared for, protected, and brought home safely,” Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss said.

He said the operation “underscores the strength of Israel-Philippines relations and the unique role of MASHAV in fostering development, resilience and lasting cooperation even under the most challenging circumstances.”

Alert Level 3

Last Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised the danger level to Alert Level 3 which calls for voluntary repatriations, “effective immediately.”

So far, at least 191 Filipinos in Israel have repatriation requests and nine others in Iran have expressed willingness to go home.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo, chairman of the Senate committee on migrant workers, said he was informed by Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac that 26 of the 187 OFWs who requested for repatriation are expected to arrive in Manila tomorrow.

“With this development, we are earnestly encouraging more of our kababayans in both countries to evacuate and leave crucial areas to ensure their safety,” he said in a statement.

“Even though this alert level does not signify a mandatory repatriation, it is best to leave and relocate to safer areas now or to immediately request repatriation for your safety,” he added.

“The government’s resources are ready and at full force to give assistance should you wish to go back home and start all over. That’s why I am strongly urging all of our fellow countrymen to coordinate with our officials and agencies,” Tulfo said.

“I continue to pray for the safety of all our kababayans, especially in war torn and conflict areas as well as the safety and well-being of our officials helping our OFWs,” he stated.

As the Israel-Iran conflict entered its second week yesterday, the number of Filipinos injured in missile attacks has reached eight, including one who remains in critical condition with severe and life-threatening injuries.

The Philippine embassy in Israel said the female OFW underwent major pulmonary surgery at Shamir Medical Center, one of Israel’s most advanced hospitals.

In its advisory, the DFA said all OFWs in Israel and Iran “are enjoined to return to the Philippines.”

Under Alert Level 3, “travel by Filipinos to both these countries is highly discouraged, due to the ongoing crisis and the actual closure of their air space and seaports.”

Filipinos in Israel who wish to be repatriated may get in touch with the Philippine embassy at emergency hotline numbers +972 54 466 1188 or through email [email protected].

For those in Iran, they may contact the Philippine embassy through hotline numbers +989 12 213 6801 or through email [email protected].

The DFA said Alert Levels would be subject to periodic review, taking into consideration the situation on the ground.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), for its part, said it is ready to roll out a social protection program and other packages of intervention for children of OFWs in the event of mandatory repatriation.

“The DSWD is ready once we receive a directive from our President. Our secretary is supporting that. Our team is ready for that,” DSWD’s Protective Services Bureau-Crisis Intervention Unit (PSB-CIU) director Edwin Morata said. — Ghio Ong