An official from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have expressed willingness to assist the Philippines in repatriating Filipinos affected by the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said this after the agency confirmed that the number of Filipinos who died due to the war reached three on Friday, Oct. 13.

In a press briefing in Malacañan, De Vega said that some of the Philippines' neighboring countries, like Indonesia, offered to help in the repatriation efforts.

"ASEAN countries have also approached us for help. At the same time, they offered help. For example, Indonesia is offering to help Filipinos who want to leave the West Bank," he said.

"While they have no presence in Gaza, obviously, but they have citizens in Gaza, so they are asking for our assistance. So, it's an international approach," he added.

According to De Vega, Marcos directed the DFA to contact other countries and also through the embassies in Manila to provide "critical assistance" in looking for Filipinos who are still unaccounted for and to help in getting them out of Gaza.

Israel has to agree to a humanitarian corridor and for Egypt to allow citizens to enter through its border for Filipinos to get out of Gaza.

He added that Filipino officials are talking to their friends from Egypt about such an arrangement so the Filipinos from Gaza who want to be repatriated could be brought there.

"In the President's words, what is critical now is Gaza, and let's keep exploring all possible exit options," De Vega said.

"You already know that he has met the Israeli ambassador, who has promised that no civilians are being targeted," he added.

The Marcos administration has vowed to exhaust all available remedies to start repatriating overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the Filipino community and provide them assistance amid the ongoing war.

President Marcos has expressed support for Israel in its fight against the Hamas. 

There are about 131 Filipinos in Gaza; some are Filipino women married to Palestinians.