Mideast situation still unstable; evacuation plans in place

FILE: Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzan at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday (June 10, 2019). (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA — Contingency plans on the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers remain in place as the situation in the Middle East is still unstable, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Saturday.

“The situation in the area is still unstable and our contingencies for massive repatriation are still in place,” Lorenzana said in a media statement.

Lorenzana said Environment Secretary and Special Envoy to the Middle East, Roy Cimatu, is now in Qatar implementing the repatriation on the ground and constantly assessing the situation in Iran, Iraq, Libya and other neighboring states.

The DND chief said the first batch of evacuees, numbering 14, is now at the Philippine embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.

These OFWs will be transported to Doha, Qatar from where they will be flown to Manila on Sunday (January 12).

“This number may increase, however, as the embassy continues to call on other OFWs who wish to come home,” he added.

Lorenzana also said the Philippine Coast Guard ship, BRP Gabriela Silang, is in Malta and ready to sail anytime to nearby countries where Filipinos are in danger to ferry them to safer areas.

“We are closely monitoring Kuwait which just raised its security level to maximum on Jan. 9, 2020,” he added.

The DND chief was earlier named chairperson of the special working panel that will oversee the evacuation and possible repatriation of OFWs in the Middle East amid tensions between the United States and Iran.

“The Alert Level within an area covering a 100-km radius from and including Tripoli, Libya was raised to Level 4 (mandatory evacuation). Outside the said 100-km radius, it remains at Alert Level 2,” Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana also advised Filipinos in Iraq and in Tripoli, Libya to contact the nearest Philippine mission to facilitate their mandatory evacuation.