The Philippines has called on Israel to avoid civilian targets in Lebanon and not to attack the airport as the government started its efforts to fly home Filipinos there.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega urged the Israeli government on Wednesday, Oct. 9, to follow international law and apply proportionality as Tel Aviv started fighting Hezbollah rebels, who have bases in Lebanon.
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, Israeli Ambassador in Manila Ilan Fluss ensured the safety of civilians, including Filipinos, in Lebanon as long as they do not get close to Hezbollah facilities, which are the subject of attacks by Israel.
Fluss also said that Israel is willing to exercise restraint in the conflict as long as somebody would be able to get rid of Hezbollah threats "diplomatically."
"Nanawagan tayo sa Israel na yung kanilang actions (We call on Israel that their actions) should be under principles of international law, including proportionality," De Vega said in a television interview.
"Avoid civilian casualties. Hindi naman nila pwedeng sabihin na yung airport ng Lebanon ay Hezbollah-controlled. Hindi dapat nila salakayin 'yun at biglang wala na yung [operating] airlines (They cannot say that even the airport is Hezbollah-controlled. Israel should not attack it until the last operating airline won't be able to fly anymore)," he added.
So far, around 1,000 of 11,000 Filipinos in Lebanon already expressed their willingness to be repatriated. Half of them have already returned to the country.
From the 1,000, 182 Filipinos already have booked their flights, while some 400 are still waiting for their schedule.
Currently, it is only the Middle East Airlines, the flag carrier of Lebanon, that is operating in the country as other airlines suspended their operations.
De Vega said that the Philippine government cannot increase the Alert Level 4 status in Lebanon to impose a mandatory repatriation as there is still a working Lebanese government.
Many Filipinos there also oppose such a move as they said they do not want to return to the Philippines in fear of not having any source of income.
President Marcos already urged Filipinos both in Lebanon and Israel to return home as the Israel-Hamas war is now escalating into a regional tension.
"Nababahala tayo sa kanila, pero sila mismo parang kinasayanan na nila [yung gera] eh (We're concerned of them. But it seems they're already used to fighting)," De Vega said.
But de Vega gave assurance that the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon is exerting all its efforts and acting as if there is already Alert Level 4 in the country.