2nd batch of Filipinos from Israel coming home on Oct 20 – gov’t

A formation of Israeli tanks and military personnel is positioned near Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura

MANILA, Philippines — The second batch of Filipino repatriates from Israel is set to arrive in the Philippines on Friday, October 20, government officials said.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Administrator Honey Quiño said the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are scheduled to arrive at 3:45 p.m. that day.

“Tomorrow, a second batch will arrive, and [they] will be welcomed by OWWA, Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and other agencies. Same flight as yesterday (Wednesday),” said Quiño in a mix of English and Filipino.

READ: Repatriating Filipinos in Gaza would be harder than those in Israel – DFA

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, who was also present during the briefing, said the Department of Health and Department of Social Welfare and Development will likewise assist in giving psychosocial support to the returning OFWs.

He, however, noted that they are still not sure how many Filipinos will comprise the second batch of repatriates.

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“Minsan kasi pag sakay ng eroplano ay nababawasan. ‘Yung kahapon, na-offload sa Abu Dhabi dahil nagkaroon ng [chest pain], but [we know] that she’s safe,” said de Vega.

(Sometimes, it is reduced upon boarding the plane. Yesterday, one OFW was offloaded in Abu Dhabi because she had [chest pain], but [we know] that she’s safe.)

READ: DFA: Fourth Filipino killed in Israel-Hamas war

“We don’t know the exact figures, but they are almost 20. We’ll find out by tomorrow,” he added.

Filipinos in Israel and Gaza were trapped as war rages in the region following a surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7.

Since the conflict intensified, the DFA has been looking for ways to move Filipinos out of the battle zone, especially as the Philippine government ordered their mandatory evacuation from Gaza on October 15.

The DFA said it has placed Israel on Alert Level 2 and the Gaza Strip on Alert Level 4.

The Philippines welcomed its first batch of 16 Filipino repatriates, including a one-month-old baby, from battle-weary Israel on Wednesday, October 18.

kga/abc