MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) declares Alert Level 4 in the Gaza Strip and advises Filipino nationals in the area to leave immediately.
This was announced by DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega during the Kapihan sa Media in Quezon City Sunday morning.
According to De Vega, the DFA raised the alert at 4:45pm Israel time on Saturday.
“At 4:45pm we raised it. Ibig sabihin, nananawagan na tayo sa lahat ng mga kababayan natin sa Gaza, mandatory na umuwi na kayo,” De Vega said. (At 4:45pm we raised it. It means we are asking all our Filipino nationals in Gaza, it is mandatory that you leave and go home).
De Vega emphasized that the DFA will not force Filipino nationals to leave Gaza, but said that they cannot guarantee the safety of Filipinos in that area if they decide to stay.
“Now, hindi ibig sabihin na kukunin namin kayo, pipilitin nating umalis ng Gaza. ibig sabihin, required na kayong umalis at kung manatili kayo doon, well, we cannot guarantee your safety anymore,” De Vega added. (Now, this does not mean we will rescue or force you to leave Gaza. This means you are required to leave and if you decide to stay, we cannot guarantee your safety anymore).
De Vega confirms that there are still 131 Filipinos in Gaza and says that there is “no way in our out” of Gaza but he is hopeful that they can leave the area through the border with Egypt.
Of the 131, De Vega earlier said that three Filipinos are tourists while the rest are spouses of Palestinian nationals with their children.
Meanwhile, DFA still continues to work on the repatriation of Filipino nationals in Israel and in the Gaza Strip.
In an official statement released on Sunday, the DFA said that the Philippine government has accounted for the 131 Filipino nationals in Gaza, and at least 78 of them are now situated near the Rafah border crossing near Egypt.
The statement adds, “all the rest have left northern Gaza or Gaza City, which is expected to be the main site of hostilities.”
Earlier, De Vega said that the Philippines is expecting the United Nations Security Council will also call for the opening of a safe corridor, where there are two possible exit points, the border with Israel or the Rafah border with Egypt.
