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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH embassy plans to get Filipinos out of Israel by land, sea amid Iranian airstrikes

PH embassy plans to get Filipinos out of Israel by land, sea amid Iranian airstrikes

Published Jun 15, 2025 02:34 pm
The Philippine Embassy in Israel is planning to repatriate Filipinos there by land or sea since the airspace of Israel and Jordan are currently closed due to the ongoing conflict in the region with Iran, Philippine Ambassador in Tel Aviv Aileen Mendiola-Rau said.

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, led by Ambassador Aileen Mendiola-Rau, has activated its Crisis Management Team to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Israel amid its escalating conflict with Iran. (Photo from the Philippine Embassy in Israel via Facebook)
The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, led by Ambassador Aileen Mendiola-Rau, has activated its Crisis Management Team to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Israel amid its escalating conflict with Iran. (Photo from the Philippine Embassy in Israel via Facebook)
In an interview with GMA News on Saturday, June 14, the envoy shared they are checking the ways on how to repatriate the Filipinos in Israel since aircrafts couldn’t take off from Israel and Jordan.

“So we're looking at other possibilities in case lumala pa ang sitwasyon (the situation worsens). We're coming up with plans to bring our people out, not by air but probably by land towards Jordan or Egypt. Iko-consider din natin ang (We will also consider) repatriation by sea,” Mendiola-Rau said.

The embassy, she furthered, had already convened a crisis management team since Israel attacked Iran last Friday.

They are currently reviewing the contingency plan and monitoring the current situation.

An advisory by the Philippine Embassy in Israel also advised Filipinos there “to follow the IDF Home Front Command's security guidelines and the Embassy's safety advisories, as well as to be alert and ready to act.”

“The safety and well-being of Filipinos in Israel remain the Embassy’s top priority. Ambassador Mendiola is personally overseeing efforts to monitor the situation, coordinate with Israeli and Philippine authorities, and ensure that timely advisories and support are extended to our kababayan,” the post read.

The ambassador also told GMA News that the embassy has purchased essential goods that can be prepositioned to different locations in Israel to prepare for a possible repatriation.

The embassy also checked the status of the shelters and renewed its arrangements with the facilities so Filipinos have somewhere to go to if the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates further.

The embassy’s plan follows the exchange of missile attacks between Israel and Iran, which Israel started on Friday, citing Iran’s alleged plan to annihilate Israel.

After Israel’s attack on Iran’s huge Natanz underground nuclear site that killed its top military commanders, Iran launched retaliatory airstrikes at Israel, with explosions heard in the country’s two biggest cities, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he authorized the assault to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons, something that Iran claimed it only does for peaceful purposes.

Iran is also reportedly allied with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both militant groups have been decimated by Israel.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Israel’s action was a “declaration of war,” with a senior Iranian official claiming that there will be no safe place in Israel and revenge would be painful.

Foreign media also reported that Israel and Iran launched a fresh wave of missile strikes against each other on early Sunday morning.

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Iran Philippine Embassy in Israel repatriation contingency plan
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