No 19th Congress lawmakers stranded in Israel, says House spox
MANILA, Philippines — None of the lawmakers from the House of Representatives of the 19th Congress were stranded in Israel, House spokesperson Princess Abante confirmed on Wednesday.
“As far as I know, no members of the 19th Congress are in Israel now. Following the statement of the Secretary General, I think there are some who planned, but did not continue their trips. But again from what I was told, no members of the 19th Congress are in Israel at this time,” Abante said in Filipino in a press briefing.
Information from both the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss showed that 17 Filipino local government officials, including mayors, are stranded in Israel after the country closed its airspace and airports due to Iran’s retaliatory air raids.
According to Fluss, the 17 are part of a Philippine delegation conducting a study visit to exchange best practices on dairy farming.
READ: 17 PH local officials, including mayors, stranded in Israel – envoy
As to whether the lawmakers mentioned as among those trapped were not from the 19th Congress, Abante said she has no information
“What I can say right now is based on the information given to me, that for the 19th Congress, no members of the 19th Congress are in Israel right now. I mean, I don’t know, I have no details if there are members of past Congresses who are there right now, so I cannot answer that,” Abante said.
“I have not talked with them (DFA), I am just checking information as of now. So far that’s the information that I have.”
On Tuesday, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said that two of the lawmakers originally set to travel to Israel — Batangas 4th District Rep. Lianda Bolilia and San Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes — did not push through with their trip.
Velasco said that Bolilia rescinded her request for a travel authority to Israel, while Robes did not push through with her application.
Velasco, however, said on the same day that they still cannot confirm whether there are lawmakers who went to Israel on their way back to Manila from other trips abroad.
Fears of a wider conflict over the Middle East were stoked after Israel attacked Iran last June 13 with airstrikes over several sites, leading to Iran retaliating a few days after.
The attacks have been described as the “most intense fighting yet” between the two countries, as previously, Israel and Iran only figured in proxy wars.
READ: Israel pounds Iran, Tehran hits back with missiles
Reports show that 31,000 Filipinos are legally working and living in Israel, but there are estimates that the number of Filipinos there could reach 50,000 if undocumented workers are included.
Meanwhile, in Iran, there are around 2,000 Filipinos, including Filipinos married to Iranians.
Four Filipinos in Israel have so far been reported injured after the airstrikes.
READ: 4 Filipinos in Israel injured amid air strikes
