DFA: Only 13 Gaza-based Pinoys being evacuated

MANILA, Philippines - Only 13 of 70 Filipinos slated for evacuation from Gaza are being slipped out of the war-torn area due to the volatility of the security situation, a Filipino ambassador to Israel said early Monday.

In an interview on dzBB radio, Philippine ambassador to Israel Petronila Garcia said the others may have decided not to push through with their plans to leave their sanctuaries and slip out of the area for fears of getting caught in the crossfire.

"Dapat 70 ang gusto naming i-extract. Kaya lang napaka-dangerous ng security situation ngayon only 13 were able (We planned to extract 70 Filipinos initially. But due to the dangerous security situation only 13 were able to push through with their plan to leave)," Garcia said.

Garcia noted that Philippine officials cannot force many of the Filipinos if they decide to stay because of the danger involved.

The official said the Filipinos who decided to take advantage of the government's evacuation plan are expected to arrive in Manila Tuesday. "We are in the process of extracting them from Gaza," she said.

According to Garcia, the 13 Filipinos who left Gaza will be brought to Jordan and then to Manila. Garcia also said there is no report of any injury or casualty among Filipinos in Gaza.

Earlier, Foreign Affairs undersecretary for migrant workers Esteban Conejos Jr said there are 121 Filipinos in Gaza, including 20 families of Filipino women married to Palestinian nationals.

He said these Filipinos had stayed in Gaza for 15 to 20 years, but retained their Philippine passports.

Still, he admitted there are no guarantees the Filipinos can move out, adding the only thing they have is an option to cross the Gaza border safely.

Conejos said the arrangements made by Philippine diplomats in the Gaza area was to arrange with the Israeli military to allow the Filipinos to cross to the border between Gaza and Israel.

"We asked the Red Cross to escort them from Gaza. Once they cross to Israel they will be safe," Conejos added in an interview on dwIZ radio.

Upon crossing the border, Philippine embassy personnel will escort the Filipinos to the next border entering Jordan, where they will board a flight for Manila via Thailand.

"We bought tickets for the 70 originally supposed to be repatriated but only 13 can go ... (This is) a small window of opportunity for us to take them out ngayong araw (today). All our movements are always coordinated with the military authorities of Israel," he said. - GMANews.TV

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