Gov’t focused on bringing Filipinos to safety amid Israel-Hamas war
Gov’t focused on bringing Filipinos to safety amid Israel-Hamas war
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00:00 The safety and well-being of all Filipinos is tops among the president's personal concerns.
00:05 And clearly the prolonged delay in the release of foreign nationals seeking out of no man's
00:10 land Gaza has worn the president's patience thin.
00:14 Earlier today he got reassurance from the DFA and Jewish envoy of the impending release
00:19 of the scores of migrant Filipino workers by this weekend.
00:23 Our Kenneth Pachenta gets us up to speed on the issue.
00:26 Amid the ongoing turmoil between Israel and Hamas, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
00:33 assured the government is focused on our fellow countrymen caught and trapped in the conflict
00:37 in Gaza.
00:38 In fact, our country's representative has spoken with the Israeli government for their
00:43 safe evacuation.
00:44 "However, we have been, I've asked the secretary, Ricky Manolo, to make the ambassador,
00:55 Ambassador Ilan Flus, and of course he has been able to get in touch with the foreign
01:02 minister of Israel.
01:04 And our ambassador, Ambassador Junie Lilo, was able to see the president yesterday, the
01:11 president of Israel yesterday.
01:13 So they promised us that the Filipinos will be released by today or tomorrow.
01:22 That is what they promised us.
01:23 Saturday at the latest."
01:25 Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo has written to his counterparts in Israel and
01:29 Egypt to issue the necessary permits for safe crossing at the Rafa border for Filipinos
01:34 in Gaza.
01:35 There are 115 Filipinos in Gaza who wish to return to the Philippines.
01:40 Israel provides the names of those allowed to pass the border to the Egyptian government.
01:44 The president explained the process takes time for some Filipinos who've married Palestinians.
01:49 "We have no control over this.
01:52 It is between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
01:57 There is also a complication because some of the Filipino nationals, mga babae, may
02:04 na pangasawanan ng Palestinian.
02:06 Hindi pinapalabas yung Palestinian.
02:08 So many of them are undecided kung gusto nilang umalis o hindi.
02:12 Dahil siyempre ayaw naman nilang iwanan ang asawa nila, ayaw nilang iwanan yung kanilang
02:16 anak."
02:17 The chief executive has also ensured that buses are ready in Cairo for the Filipinos
02:21 to use once they get across the Rafa border crossing.
02:24 The DFA assured the government has a program to assist our fellow countrymen evacuated
02:28 from Gaza when they return to the country.
02:31 "Well, we're in touch with the office of the president about that.
02:34 So they have to make utus about it to the other agencies, including, although they're
02:40 not OFWs, no?
02:41 Make utus with the DMW and OWA, no?
02:45 Usually the integration is done through the DILG, through the local government."
02:49 The DFA previously reported that two Filipinos have safely reached Egypt.
02:53 Both are members of Doctors Without Borders.
02:56 Kenneth Paciente, for the nation.