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GMA Network
2 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Sara Duterte to Filipinos in Middle East: Stay calm, listen to authorities
Vice President Sara Duterte expressed concern Friday for Filipinos working and living in the Middle East amid the escalating tensions in the region. In a video message, Duterte underscored the importance of readiness of Filipinos situated in conflict-affected areas and following the advice of authorities to ensure their safety. 'Pakinggan ang payo ng mga awtoridad para sa maayos na evacuation at iba pang mga importanteng hakbang para sa inyong kaligtasan,' the Vice President said. (Heed the advice of the authorities regarding evacuation and other important measures to ensure your safety.) 'Higit sa lahat, manatili tayong mahinahon at matatag, dala-dala ang ating pananampalataya sa Diyos at pag-asa para sa kapayapaan,' she added. (Above all, remain calm and strong, keep your faith in God, and hope for peace.) She also called on Filipinos in the Middle East to avoid indulging in fake news and make sure that they are getting information about current events from reliable media organizations. 'To all the governments involved in the conflict, we hope that you will always uphold the norms that safeguard humanity during these challenging times. Sabay sabay nating pangalagaan ang buhay at kinabukasan ng bawat Pilipino,' Duterte said. (Let's take care of the life and future of every Filipino together.) Tensions are high in the Middle East after Israel earlier launched a preemptive attack against Iran, supposedly to deter Tehran's nuclear program. The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), has called on concerned countries to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East after Israel's airstrikes on Iran. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), meanwhile, has implemented a deployment ban on new hires for Iran and Jordan. There is an existing deployment ban in Israel in the aftermath of the conflict with Hamas. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
The Journal
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
No airborne rescue mission planned for Irish in Iran as evacuating by road most viable route
NO PLANS HAVE been put into effect for Irish troops to evacuate Irish citizens from Iran and Israel, as the conflict between the two nations enters its seventh day. Sources have told The Journal that there are not yet any proposals to deploy an Emergency Civil Assistance Team (ECAT) to the region. It is understood that the Army Ranger Wing, which was previously been deployed with ECATs in Afghanistan and Sudan, has not been ordered to prepare for Irish evacuations from Iran or Israel. Meetings have taken place among partner countries, along with Ireland, and sources said it is at the level of 'seeking advice and assistance'. Air evacuations of Irish citizens from Iran would be extremely dangerous - the nation's airspace is a de facto no-fly zone due to extensive bombing and rocket launches. Missile strikes between Iran and Israel have rapidly intensified since Israel launched a pre-emptive attack which targeted Iran's nuclear programme and killed high-ranking members of its military and Revolutionary Guard, prompting Iran to retaliate. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has reportedly approved war plans that include plans of attack on Iran, but has not given final approval for action to be taken. Tehran has said that American involvement will escalate the conflict into a total regional war. Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Claire Byrne show this morning, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris confirmed that there are 29 Irish citizens currently in Iran, along with 12 dependents. The majority of Irish citizens in Iran are located in or around the capital city, Tehran, Harris said. Smoke rises from a building in Tehran, Iran. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The Tánaiste also confirmed there are around 200 Irish citizens in Israel. Sources have said that the current plan for Irish citizens in Iran will be to advise them to travel by road to Jordan or Azerbaijan, as Iranian airspace remains closed. The land route from Iran to Jordan would involve travelling through either Iraq or Syria – as such, the route to Azerbaijan, roughly 500km north of Tehran, is the preferred route. There is no Irish embassy in Azerbaijan – though it is understood that Ireland is working with other nations to return citizens home. Advertisement Iranian airspace remains closed. FlightRadar24 FlightRadar24 In Israel, a small number of commercial flights are still departing from major airports, and Irish citizens will be advised to leave the country if possible. Harris said that Ireland is working with other EU member states to help people leave 'when it's when it's possible and safe to do so'. He added that Irish embassies in Tehran and Tel Aviv were in 'close contact' with Irish citizens on the ground. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has advised Irish citizens not to travel to Israel or Iran during this period amid the anticipation of further missile strikes from both sides. In a statement, a DFA spokesperson said: 'The Department is advising citizens in both locations to remain vigilant, to monitor developments and media, and to follow advice from local authorities, including when this is to shelter in place. 'All citizens in the region should register with the nearest Irish Embassy, if they have not already done so. Our Embassies are in regular contact with registered Irish citizens.' Global evacuations Governments around the world are attempting to evacuate thousands of their nationals caught up in the rapidly spiralling Israel-Iran conflict, organising buses and planes and in some cases assisting people crossing borders on foot. European countries have already repatriated hundreds of their citizens from Israel. The Czech Republic and Slovakia said on Tuesday that they had taken 181 people home on government planes. 'It was not possible to send the army plane straight to Israel,' the Czech defence ministry said in a statement, citing the air space closure. 'The evacuees were taken to an airport in a neighbouring country by buses. They crossed the border on foot.' The German government said flights were scheduled for today via Jordan, while Poland said the first of its citizens were due to arrive back yesterday. Greece said it had repatriated 105 of its citizens plus a number of foreign nationals via Egypt, while a private plane with 148 people landed in the Bulgarian capital Sophia on Tuesday. Japan announced this afternoon that two military transport aircrafts are en route to Djibouti in Eastern Africa to organise and stage for the evacuation of roughly 1,000 Japanese nationals in Israel, as well as around 280 in Iran. Meanwhile, the United States ambassador to Israel yesterday announced plans for evacuating Americans by air and sea. The embassy is 'working on evacuation flights & cruise ship departures' for 'American citizens wanting to leave Israel,' Mike Huckabee posted on X. With reporting from Niall O'Connor and Jane Moore Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DMW issues deployment ban on new hires for Iran, Jordan amid conflict with Israel
The Department of Migrant Workers has implemented a deployment ban on new hires for Iran and Jordan amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East. 'New hires are prohibited. Returning [Overseas Filipino Workers] are allowed, technically speaking. But they still can't travel because the airspace is closed,' DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said in a press conference on Thursday. The DMW issued Advisory No. 19 s. 2025 reiterating restrictions in the deployment of OFWs to Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon. Cacdac advised Jordan-bound OFWs to likewise postpone their trips, given the kingdom shares a common border with Israel. 'The same is true with Jordan-bound OFWs, they are turned back. So we issued an advisory, huwag na kayo pumunta muna. We included that in our advisory to recruitment agencies. Don't send new hires to Jordan because they will just be turned back,' Cacdac added. (Don't go there at this time.) There is an existing deployment ban in Israel in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel in 2023. Cacdac warned that non-compliant recruitment agencies will be held liable. 'That's part of our regulatory authority over them. When we speak in a regulatory sense, then they have to comply. And yes, on the cost of travel, we'll have them pay for that,' Cacdac said. As of Thursday, Cacdac said that there are also 58 Filipinos who are either Israel-bound or Jordan-bound but are stranded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Of the 58, the DMW has been able to arrange a flight for four Israel-bound Filipinos to return to the Philippines via an Etihad flight in Abu Dhabi. 'We have been helping them,' Cacdac said. While it is not within DMW's purview to make recommendations on alert levels that determine whether there should be a mandatory repatriation or a voluntary one, Cacdac said the agency is focused on helping Filipinos in need, regardless of the situation. 'The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials are the political and security experts. We honor their leadership at the one country team level so it is the ambassador's call, it is the Secretary of Foreign Affairs' call , and we will always defer to the DFA's judgment,' Cacdac said. Tensions are high in the Middle East after Israel launched a preemptive attack against Iran six days ago, supposedly to deter Tehran's nuclear program. —RF, GMA Integrated News
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
21 Philippine officials stuck in Israel to return to Manila by weekend
MANILA: The 21 Filipino government officials stranded in Israel are set to travel back home to the Philippines this weekend, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The 21 officials were stranded after Israel closed its airspace and airports due to Iran's retaliatory air raids. 'They will be flying home this weekend [through] Jordan,' DFA Usec. Eduardo de Vega (pic) told According to De Vega the officials will be travelling to Jordan within the week, before heading back to the Philippines during the weekend. De Vega said there are nine mayors, four vice mayors, two party-list representatives, and two regional directors stuck in Israel. Additionally, four officials from the Department of Agriculture were also with them. The DFA, however, refused to identify the 21 officials out of respect for their privacy. Meanwhile, in a separate chance interview, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr said the 21 officials have already arrived in Jordan on Tuesday night (Manila time). 'We've tried to find ways to get them out, either via Egypt or the option that they took is a land trip to Jordan,' said Laurel. 'And from Jordan, they will be flown back to Qatar and back to Manila. Pero, but they just arrived in Jordan last night,' he added. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DFA: 21 stranded PH officials in Israel safely evacuated to Jordan
Twenty-one stranded Philippine government officials safely crossed into Jordan from Israel amid its escalating conflict with Iran, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday. Of this number, 17 officials attended an agricultural technology training that began June 10 and is supposed to officially end June 20. Two were congressmen, nine mayors, four vice mayors, and two regional directors. The other four are specialists from the Department of Agriculture on dairy industry. "The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv actively coordinated with the Philippine Embassy in Jordan, relevant authorities, and made the necessary representations with the Israeli government in support of this mission," the DFA said. In Amman, Philippine diplpmats made formal representations to Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the Jordanian Border Security to secure entry clearance for the officials, it added. The group was met by Philippine Ambassador Wilfredo Santos at the King Hussein Border, where they were provided with the necessary assistance and issued transit visas "at no cost to the Philippine government," the DFA said. In the next few days, the Philippine embassy in Jordan is expected to receive the first group of Filipino workers who will be evacuated from Israel, the DFA said. Israel and Iran have traded missile strikes for a week, trapping civilians and foreign nationals on both sides of the conflict, triggering international alarm. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
