'Mobilize all available resources': Solon calls for united effort to repatriate Pinoys from Gaza
At A Glance
- Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo wants all hands on deck for the repatriation of Filipinos from Gaza Strip.
Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo (Rep. Salo's office)
Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo wants all hands on deck for the repatriation of Filipinos from Gaza Strip.
"In light of the recent developments in Gaza, where Israel has called for the evacuation of all civilians within 24 hours, it is of utmost priority to ensure the safety and well-being of our fellow Filipinos caught in this conflict," Salo, chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, said in a statement Friday afternoon, Oct. 13.
"I call on the DFA and our Embassy in Cairo to immediately ensure the immediate repatriation of our 137 overseas Filipinos, consistent with the assurances they made to the Committee in the hearing held on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023," the veteran solon said.
According to Salo, "All available diplomatic channels need to be explored in order to immediately effect the repatriation."
"I also call upon the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of National Defense (DND) to support the repatriation efforts," he added.
"Let us mobilize all available resources of the government to ensure the safe return of our kababayans," he further said, as he noted that "Time is of the essence and we must act swiftly."
Salo went on to issue a message to Filipinos in the Palestinian-occupied Gaza.
"To our fellow Filipinos in Gaza, I urge you to cooperate fully with the government's repatriation efforts. Your safety is of paramount concern, and your cooperation will greatly assist in expediting the process.
"We stand united in our commitment in ensuring the welfare of every Filipino overseas," he said.
Three Filipinos have died in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.