More Pinoys in Israel seek repatriation

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-six Filipinos in Israel were repatriated yesterday, the Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv said.

The 26 Filipinos were among the 223 who requested for voluntary repatriation. Five were assessed to cross into Jordan on June 19.

The embassy strongly urged yesterday for Filipinos in Israel to remain indoors, as the entire country was placed under Essential Activity status following the United States strikes on Iran’s three main nuclear sites.

The embassy said it was the Israel Defense Forces who announced its new advisory from Limited Activity status, to Essential Activity status.

“In other words, no classes in all academic institutions. Gatherings of all kinds are prohibited. No work for all companies, except for those that provide essential services,” the embassy said.

“The embassy strongly advises all Filipinos in Israel to remain inside their homes, and to be ready to seek shelter, use a safe room or Mamad (protected room inside a home) in the event of a missile alert,” it said.

A Filipina, who is in critical condition with severe and life-threatening injuries after a missile attack, underwent a major pulmonary surgery at Shamir Medical Center, one of Israel’s most advanced hospitals.

She is still in the ICU and will need to undergo another surgery once stable. A male Filipino, who suffered moderate to serious injuries, had surgery and was discharged.

Six have been discharged after receiving treatment for minor injuries.

According to the embassy, 88 Filipinos lost their homes due to missile impact.

They are currently being housed in temporary accommodations.

The number of displaced Filipinos includes an infant who was just born on June 10.

‘No Filipino casualty’

No Filipino was killed in areas near the three Iranian nuclear facilities bombed by the United States yesterday, according to the Philippine embassy in Tehran.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said there was “no report of any Filipino casualty in Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow areas so far.”

Embassy personnel are also safe, De Vera told The STAR.

Fuel price surge

In another development, domestic pump prices of petroleum products could spike by over P5 per liter this week, after the United States joined Israel’s war against Iran.

US President Donald Trump confirmed over the weekend the “very successful attack” on three Iranian nuclear sites – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

“All planes are now outside of Iran’s airspace. A full payload of bombs was dropped on the primary site, Fordow… There is not another military in the world that could have done this,” Trump said, describing the bombing as a step toward “peace.”

Following the five-day trading in the global oil market, industry sources estimated major price hikes of P4.90 to P5.10 per liter for diesel and P3.20 to P3.40 per liter for gasoline.

With the recent US airstrikes on Iran, however, Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas expects global oil prices to “rise further.”

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Department of Energy is reportedly set to meet with oil industry players today to discuss possible measures to mitigate the impact on motorists. — Brix Lelis, Mayen Jaymalin, Mark Ernest Villeza