PRRD to send Cimatu ahead of him to Israel

Cimatu, a former Armed Forces chief of staff, previously served as special envoy for Overseas Filipino Worker-refugees. He was also special envoy to the Middle East during the term of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (File photo: Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)/Facebook)

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte will be sending Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to Israel ahead of his visit to check on the plight of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.

Cimatu, a former Armed Forces chief of staff, previously served as special envoy for Overseas Filipino Worker-refugees. He was also special envoy to the Middle East during the term of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Duterte confirmed that he will be pushing through with his trip to Israel and Jordan, in his speech during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Visayas Island Cluster Conference in Cebu City on Tuesday night.

The President earlier said he was trying to figure out whether he would push through with his trip or not because travel expenses were costly.

“Mahal ang ano eh (It is expensive). So I’ve been trying to figure out whether I go or not,” Duterte said in his speech.

“Pupunta ako ng Israel (I’m going to Israel), why? Because it’s heating up. And there are 28,000 Filipinos there. I have to go to Jordan because there are 48,000 Filipinos there. I have to make sure. That’s why I’m sending Cimatu ahead of me,” he added.

Last Aug. 14, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed that Duterte has accepted the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Duterte, who will be in Israel on Sept. 2-5, will be the first Filipino leader to visit Israel since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1957.

The two leaders are expected to discuss common concerns and ways of expanding cooperation in such areas as labor, tourism, trade, agriculture, counter-terrorism, security, and law enforcement.

Duterte will also visit Jordan after his trip to Israel although the date has yet to be announced.