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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Last batch of 14 Pinoys from Gaza back home; repatriation complete—DFA

Last batch of 14 Pinoys from Gaza back home; repatriation complete—DFA

Published Feb 22, 2024 07:32 am

With the arrival of the last batch of Filipinos from Gaza on Wednesday, Feb. 21, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it has successfully completed its repatriation program in the war-torn territory.

Pinoy repats_Gaza2.jpgThe last batch of 14 Filipino repatriates from war-torn Gaza arrive in Manila on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. (DFA photo)

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said on Thursday, Feb. 22, during the Bagong Pilipinas briefing that only the Filipina nun—Sister Elisabeth of the Missionaries of Charity—remain in Gaza out of the 137 Filipinos recorded there.

“Ang update natin is kumpleto na ang repatriation . . . Kaya puwede nating sabihin na kumpleto na, successful repatriation; minu-monitor din ng ating embahada sa Amman, sa Cairo iyong situation ni Sister (Our update is that the repatriation is complete . . . We can already say that it is a successful repatriation; our embassies in Amman, in Cairo are monitoring the situation of Sister),” he said.

Sister Elisabeth, the official shared, had requested to remain in Gaza because it is part of her mission.

De Vega said that the nun is only asking for prayers from Filipinos for her to be able to complete her mission there.

The 14 Filipinos—composing of three families and two Palestinian spouses—arrived in Manila on Wednesday. They were welcomed by the DFA and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

“Sila iyong huling batch na na-repatriate natin so that means isa na lang natitira (We have already repatriated the last batch so it means only one remains there),” De Vega said, assuring that Sister Elisabeth is in good condition as she has food there and they received a photo of their congregation last week.

The official, however, stressed that they are ready to assist the nun if she also wants to come home to the Philippines.

“We are monitoring her situation pero ayaw niyang ma-repatriate siya dahil nga iyon ang kaniyang misyon ‘no (but she doesn’t want to be repatriated because of her mission there),” he added.

The official also shared that there are no more Filipino hostages being held captive by the Hamas militant group after two Filipinos were released.

“At wala na tayong hostage din. May mga iba pang hostage ng ibang mga nationalities, nandoon pa; wala tayong hostage (We don’t have any hostages there anymore. There are other nationalities being held hostage),” he said.

The latest Israel-Gaza conflict started on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked a village in southern Israel.

Israel’s offensive has caused massive loss of lives in Gaza and displaced millions. The Philippine government has activated its repatriation program for Filipinos in Gaza, and worked together with the Israeli and Egyptian governments for the Filipinos to be allowed to cross the borders.

Related Tags

Department of Foreign Affairs Repatriation Gaza Eduardo De Vega
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