While no Filipinos have been reported hurt in Iran due to Israel’s missile attacks, Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said disclosed that “some Filipinos” have been left traumatized by the airstrikes between Israel and Iran.

De Vega told ANC 24/7 on Monday, June 16, that both Philippine embassies in Iran and Israel are ready to extend assistance to Filipinos there.

“At any rate, there are some traumatized Filipinos, even those who are indoors, and we're working on providing them psychological counseling as well,” he said of Filipinos in Israel.

This was after a total of eight Filipinos have been injured since Iran launched retaliatory attacks against Israel after it initiated a missile attack on Iran’s nuclear site last week.

De Vega said that aside from a house where a Filipina and her Israeli partner were living, a residential building in Rehovot, which is 30 minutes from Tel Aviv, was also destroyed, while about a dozen Filipinos who were in a park were affected by a sudden ambush from Iran.

“And there are supposedly four Filipinos being treated at a hospital, but they are not in great conditions. Our embassy has sent two teams to see them, and they've touched base already, and we're waiting for updates,” the official added, stressing that no Filipino has been reported dead due to the Iranian airstrikes to Israel.

Philippine Ambassador in Tel Aviv Aileen Mendiola-Rau, in a separate interview via DZMM on Monday, said that Filipinos have gotten used to spate of violence in Israel.

“If you ask the old-timers here, they have already gotten used to the system and the way of life here. they have been through different wars that have happened here. It's like they are battle-hardened, and they feel like they can keep working here,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The ambassador earlier disclosed that a Filipina caregiver is in critical condition and is in the intensive care unit of a local hospital. She did not provide updates on her situation, though.

A Facebook post by a Filipina caregiver in Israel thanked the Philippine Embassy in Israel for checking up on them and monitoring their situation.

“In this difficult situation we are facing right now here in Israel, l just want to say THANK YOU to my family, my friends and to everyone from a far who reached out to me and send thier loves and prayers. I'm so much grateful for all your thoughts, support and kind words,” Jenalou Mejica Requina wrote.

“At sa (And to the) Philippine Embassy in Israel Maraming Salamat po sa inyong pagtawag, pagkumusta at pag monitor sa sitwasyon naming mga OFW dito sa ISRAEL (Thank you for calling, checking on us, and monitoring the situation of OFWs here in Israel). I hope this kind of situation will end soon. Praying for the safety of everyone and for the peace of entire world. GOD BLESS!,” she added.

De Vega, on the other hand, said that there are no reports yet of Filipinos injured or requesting assistance from Iran, adding that Philippine Ambassador to Iran Roberto Manalo and other envoys have been summoned by the Tehran Foreign Ministry for a briefing.

But while the embassy is “working also on a contingency plan” that could take Filipinos through the land border with Turkmenistan, the DFA official noted that most of the 1,000 to 1,200 Filipinos living in Iran are not overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Rather, they are family members of Iranians, such as Filipinas married to Iranians and their children.

“So, the embassy is contacting the Filipino leaders to make sure that they are taking all precautions,” he furthered.

De Vega assured that the Philippine government, through its embassies, is “ready to assist and repatriate” Filipinos from Israel.

They are looking at the possibility of using neighboring Jordan as an evacuation point because airspace is currently closed in Israel.

“And also our embassy is issuing the advisory to mga kababayans to follow the local authorities and take utmost precautions. Filipinos who have been a long time in Israel precisely know all this,” he said.

“Sometimes the Iron Dome does not work if there are that many bombs or missiles that come in. And some will pass through and cause damage,” the official added.

But even before the current Israel-Iran conflict, some 60 Filipinos in Israel are already “on the pipeline” waiting for repatriation.

The embassy has activated its repatriation program since October 2023 when violence broke between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

“And that's number of around 60, dadami yan (there’ll be more) and for sure. And the question na lang (The only question) is, well, we have to find a way to repatriate them given the embassy is...>font-family: Gilroy; display: inline !important;>the airport is now closed,” De Vega said.