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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider H​ere's how PH gov't checks on Filipinos abroad

H​ere's how PH gov't checks on Filipinos abroad

Published Nov 8, 2023 04:00 pm

The Philippine government is checking on the situation of all Filipinos abroad every time a conflict in ​a host country breaks out. But how do they really do this?

According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega, the government does not go house-to-house to see if Filipinos are okay.

​Rather, they coordinate with various community leaders, who have direct contacts with the Filipinos who are spread across a country.

That's what the government, through DFA and the Philippine Embassy in Israel, did in the case of Israel, where a deadly war between Israeli forces and Hamas troops is ongoing.

"So, what the embassy is doing is contacting the community leaders," de Vega said in an interview with ANC.

De Vega also said the government has direct contacts with Israeli authorities, such as the Israel Defense Forces, to receive updates and confirm any information on affected Filipinos.

He added that the Philippine embassy also has a hotline, where cases of missing Filipinos are being reported. The contact number is  +972 544 661 188.

Currently, de Vega said the government is still confirming reports if a Filipino was taken hostage or sustained any wounds from the fighting.

But in a separate interview with ANC, Lourdes Levi, a Filipino community leader there, said one Filipino was taken hostage to Gaza and three others were wounded.

""Meron po tayong tatlong Pilipino na wounded, at meron po tayong natitirang apat na di pa nakikita (We have three Filipinos who are wounded, and four who remain unaccounted for)," Levi said.

Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to Israel Junie Laylo said five Filipinos remain unaccounted for as of Monday, a little different from Levi's figure.

Generally, the around 30,000 Filipinos in Israel remain safe as the DFA has not received any pressing concerns from the community leaders.

The 300 Agrostudies students deployed near Gaza, where fighting is heavy, are also all accounted for, de Vega said.

"In the case of the agricultural students that I mentioned, I think it was one by one or at least one representing a number," he said.

Related Tags

Overseas Fililpino Workers (OFWs) Israel eduardo jose de vega figures Department of Foreign Affairs
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