DILG Western Visayas director stranded in Israel as conflict brews
By Tara Yap
DILG Western Visayas Regional Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero in Israel. (PNA)
ILOILO CITY — Western Visayas Regional Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) are among the 17 government officials currently trapped in Israel after Iran’s retaliatory attacks.
Ingeniero was seen in one of the photos initially released by the State-run Philippine News Agency (PNA) that reported how mayors from Eastern Visayas region were transferred to a bomb-proof bunker.
Manila Bulletin tried to reach Ingeniero via Viber, but messages and calls were not answered.
There were no mayors or other local government unit (LGU) officials from Western Visayas.
Ingeniero joined the batch of Filipino officials who were part of a study tour by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture.
Specifically, they are part of a group looking into the programs of the Agrostudies International Training Center that teaches modern agriculture for food security.
The DILG inked an agreement with the Israelis for the program last year.
LGUs selected agriculture students to study at the Agrostudies International Training Center.
Ingeniero and the other Filipino officials are expected to be repatriated back to the country this week.