More than 1,400 Filipinos across the Middle East have requested for repatriation amid the ongoing conflict in the region, President Marcos said.

In a press conference at Malacañan on Tuesday, March 3, Marcos announced that the number of Filipinos who have expressed to be sent back home had reached 1,416.

According to the President, 10 Filipinos from Iran, 297 from Israel, 22 from Jordan, 231 from Bahrain, 586 from Dubai, and 270 from Abu Dhabi have requested repatriation.

However, at present, the President admitted that it has become challenging to repatriate them, as airports in these countries have closed.

"Ito ngayon ang problema. Ang problema, walang lumilipad na eroplano. At yung mga airport ay tinatamaan na (This is the problem now. The problem is that no planes are flying, and the airport's are being hit)," Marcos said.

"We have heard reports of attacks on different airports around the region, generally by – this is by Iran. Yung mga tumulong sa Amerika at ‘yung mga tumulong – yung mga bansa na tumulong sa Amerika ay inaatake ngayon ng Iran as retaliatory strikes (Countries that have helped Iran are now being attacked as retaliatory strikes),' Marcos added.

"Kaya’t very fluid ang situation. Ang assessment namin is delikado siguro magpalipad. Kahit na kaya nating kumuha ng eroplano at ipasok, wala tayong magagawa dahil (So the situation is very fluid. Our assessment is that it may be dangerous to send flights. Even if we are able to secure a plane and send it in, there is nothing we can do because) number one, the airports are closed. They are all no-fly zones. This is a combat area," Marcos further said.

The President said they have initially planned to repatriate overseas Filipinos through areas that were not affected in the beginning, but they have not been hit.

"Dahil noong una, hindi naman sila binobomba. Ngayon, binobomba na (At first, they were not being bombed. Now, they are)," Marcos said.

He also expressed concern over using a commercial airline in repatriating Filipinos as they might be attacked "by mistake."

"That's what we are worried about," he said.

Although, Marcos said, traveling by land "will be the best option," it can also be dangerous due to fire incidents in active combat zones.

Marcos made an assurance that the government, amid the new development, remains in constant contact with labor attachés, ambassadors, labor and defense attachés, to determine the situation on the ground.

The Chief Executive assured the overseas Filipinos in the Middle East that despite the challenge, the government will find ways to get them out safely.

He advised them to "stay in a safe place and stay indoors and stay away from areas of danger."

"And that is the advice we have given to our nationals in Israel and also our nationals everywhere else na if you are in a safe place, kung malayo naman kayo (if you're far from the conflict), just stay put and be safe. And we will slowly try to find ways for those who want to be repatriated, we will find ways to get you out safely," Marcos said.

He also said that "the most dangerous area for our people now would be Israel."

"Sa ngayon we have… The most dangerous area for our people right now would be Israel dahil tuloy-tuloy ang attack sa Israel (because the attacks against Israel continues). But the situation in Israel dahil sanay sila sa giyera, marami silang mga bomb shelter na puwedeng pagtaguan (because they are used to the war, they have many bomb shelters where they can take cover)," Marcos said.

He also told them to follow the host government's advice.

"[A]s I said, the situation is changing by the minute, by the hour. Kaya we just have to be in very good and close contact with the local authorities so that they can give us,"Marcos added.

The President also said they are "talking to our friends in the United States, our friends in Israel so that they can give us an idea."

"Hindi sila magsasabi kung ano yung gagawin nila pero (They won't say what their next moves are but) they can give us advice, huwag kayo munang papasok dito sa lugar na ito dahil magulo pa diyan (do not enter this area yet because it is still dangerous there)," he said.