Filipinos in the Middle East are unsure whether to push through with their repatriation days after the US declared a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, even as 20 Filipinos are set to return to the Philippines on Friday or Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
In a television interview, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said they are unsure whether those that initially signed up - an estimated 311 - still want to be repatriated, following the declared ceasefire between the two countries.
"Those that have been in Israel for a long time are used to it. It's the newbies that are worried. Meanwhile, those in Iran have families there so they mostly don't want to be repatriated," De Vega explained.
Meanwhile, a second group of repatriates consisting of 20 Filipinos from Israel are set to arrive in the country on June 27 or 28.
'They could arrive tomorrow or Saturday through the Israel airport," De Vega said.
De Vega also confirmed that eight Filipinos from Iran are scheduled to arrive home tomorrow.
"They passed through Turkmenistan from Iran," De Vega added.
The first batch of 31 repatriates from Israel, Jordan, Palestine, and Qatar arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday evening. Velle White/DMS