The third batch of Overseas Filipino Workers repatriated from Israel, consisting of 24 individuals (three men and 21 women), arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Monday aboard Etihad Airways flight EY424 via Abu Dhabi.
Most of the 24 OFWs who arrived said they will never go back to Israel after the trauma they suffered on 7 October 2023 when Hamas militants fired rockets at Israel and took hostages of different nationalities.
The OFWs will receive the same benefits from the government as the previous OFWs who arrived earlier.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Beirut urged Filipinos in Lebanon to be voluntarily repatriated as tensions increase between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Philippine Embassy said in its latest advisory that due to the heightened tension on the southern border of Lebanon, the embassy is also calling for the voluntary repatriation of Filipino nationals and has raised Alert Level 3 over Lebanon.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a radio interview that “Filipinos are being informed that there is a program for repatriation and [they are] advised to go home.” There are around 17,500 Filipinos in Lebanon.
On Tuesday, the embassy urged Filipinos close to Lebanon’s southern border to evacuate preemptively amid persistent firefights at the border.
The embassy reminded Filipinos to “take caution and avoid public places, social gatherings, and unnecessary travels around Lebanon, especially to the south” due to ongoing mass protests across Lebanon and persistent tension in the southern border, “posing a significant threat to the safety and security of civilians.”
Since violence escalated between Israel and Gaza 7 October, there have also been clashes on the border between Israel and southern Lebanon, resulting in casualties among civilians.