The first batch of Filipino repatriates from war-torn Israel will arrive in the Philippines on Monday, Oct. 16, according to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Usec. Eduardo Jose De Vega.
Interviewed during DZRH’s Magandang Umaga Pilipinas on Friday, Oct. 13, De Vega said the first batch is composed of eight Filipinos.
“May uuwi sa October 16 na walo pero galing Israel iyan. Sa Gaza, wala pa eh kasi may blocade pa,” he said.
De Vega noted that the eight sought reparation because they had lost their jobs.
“Itong mga ito ay hindi dahil sa gyera, kundi nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa economic reasons kaya uuwi sila. We will need to update you,” he said.
Citing DFA’s latest record, De Vega said the number of Filipinos who seek to return home rose to 92 from 70.
Meanwhile, the DFA official mentioned that the two Filipinos, who were brutally killed in the raging war between Israeli forces and the Palestine military group Hamas, would be cremated first before the repatriation.
“Well pareho silang ic-cremate, yung isa kasi nagdadalang tao, hinihintay na manganak siya bago iuwi sa Pilipinas. Yung isa, ic-cremate din muna tapos dadalhin sa Pilipinas,” he said.
On the other hand, De Vega said three Filipinos remain unaccounted for or still missing amidst the conflict.
