Two Filipino doctors are among the foreign nationals who successfully left war-torn Palestinian territory and crossed the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday, Nov. 1, according to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Usec. Eduardo De Vega.
“Ang alam namin, may dalawa nang Pilipinong doctor [ang] nakalusot,” he said in an interview during DZRH Damdaming Bayan on Thursday, Nov. 2
Usec. Eduardo Jose De Vega, DFA, sa mga Pinoy na nakapila sa repatriation: Paiba-iba ang bilang ng mga nandoon sa Rafah Crossing. Ang alam namin, may dalawa nang Pilipinong nakalusot.#DamdamingBayan#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) November 2, 2023
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De Vega said the Philippine Embassy would usher the two Filipinos upon their arrival in Egypt.
“Inaabangan sila ng ating Embassy sa labas. May mga bus 'yan na dadalhin sila sa Cairo, or sa city na pinakamalapit sa Rafah Crossing,” he said.
The DFA official said the Filipino doctors would not wait longer to be transmitted back to the Philippines.
“Hindi tatagal ito bago tumawid [...] Ang pangako ng mga Embahada ng Pilipinas, hindi sila tatagal sa Egypt. Ang transit ay hanggang 72 hours lang, kung kaya’t kailangan silang lumabas,” De Vega said.
Meanwhile, the DFA official said the number of Filipinos in Gaza who seek repatriation has risen.
“Dumami na ang mga tumutugon sa panawagan na magpa-repatriate na. Dati diba wala pang isang daan, ngayon 115 na ang gustong lumusot,” he said.
Aside from the two Filipinos and other foreigners, hundreds of Gaza residents also successfully streamed into the Rafah border crossing.
In Agence France-Presse’s report, most of the Gaza residents are sick and wounded.
