OSEÑA-PAEZ:Magandang hapon, Malacañang Press Corps, and welcome sa ating press briefing ngayong araw, October the 10th.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered agencies to closely coordinate with the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Migrant Workers Office in Israel to secure all Filipinos affected by the conflict between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration are working double time to ensure the safety of Filipinos affected by the situation in Israel.

And to give us some updates on this, we are joined by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, DMW OIC Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac and OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio. Good afternoon, gentlemen. Let’s start with Usec. De Vega.

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: Good afternoon, everyone. As mentioned, the President has given instructions to our agencies – it is a whole-of-government approach and it does not involve only the DFA and the DMW including DMW-OWWA but we are meeting with other government agencies such as the DND, DSWD, DOLE, TESDA and other offices as we work together to ensure the safety and protection of our kababayans in Israel and Gaza.

Let us remember that the situation is not just one which affects territory which is now in the state of Israel but also in Palestine, specifically in the Gaza Strip where there has been a shift in the scene hostilities after the weekend where we saw, and you have reported, the Hamas attacks on the south of Israel.

But we are here to assure you that the government is on top of the situation, we’re doing everything we can and we will update you or we will brief you now on the steps we’re undertaking. Aside from the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, our embassies in Amman, Jordan which has jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories and Cairo, Egypt because it is at the border of Gaza are also part of our working group.

All right. So, I would like to turnover to you, Usec. Hans Cacdac, OIC Hans Cacdac actually, of the Department of Migrant Workers to talk about the situation involving our Filipino workers in Israel so far.

DMW USEC. CACDAC: Yes. Thank you, Usec. Ed and Admin Arnell and Daphne and everyone here, greetings to everyone.

Since the presidential directive to monitor the status of our dear OFWs in Israel, last Saturday we put up the 24/7 Task Force Israel help desk over the DMW-OWWA and we have received 83 requests for assistance from OFWs and OFW families; and we had updated the status of 76 of the 83 OFWs mentioned in the request for assistance and are still seeking updates on the status of seven more.

And, of course, we also put out a Google survey; we emailed because we do have the email addresses of OFWs in Israel, so we put out a Google survey through the emails of the OFWs – and 313 had already responded from the affected areas and have marked themselves safe in the affected areas where there’s an approximately around 300 plus OFWs. When I say affected areas, I mean to say the southern part of Israel that is close to the Gaza Strip border.

And lastly, my last update would be yesterday, Labor Attaché Rudy Gabasan and OWWA Welfare Officer Dina Ponciano, of course tasked by myself and Admin Arnell to proceed to Be’er Sheva and visit the hospitalized OFW whose right arm have been grazed by a bullet. He is fine, in good spirits, recovering and is, as we speak, being transferred from Be’er Sheva up to Tel Aviv.

It was also a chance for Labor Attaché Gabasan and Welfare Officer Ponciano to visit, what we call rescue areas or centers that have been put up by the Israeli government. You know, the Israeli government coordinated by the PE Embassy in Tel Aviv. IDF have been undertaking rescue efforts on the ground and sinumang nasasagip nila, dinadala doon sa rescue areas at dinalaw iyon ni Labor Attaché Gabasan and Welfare Officer Ponciano at doon nagbigay ng ayuda; of course, aside from checking up on the well-being – not just physical but the psycho-socio well-being of our OFWs there.

So, the effort continues and with respect to our dear OFWs and hopefully things will—the situation on the ground will get better and we have a more peaceful resolutions to the current conflicts so that our OFWs can resume their work.

OWWA ADMINISTRATOR IGNACIO: Thank you. As you may have seen, OWWA is in a 24-hour non-stop work mode and we’re also in full cooperation and full coordination with the DFA, the DMW and the IDF in Israel, and we’ve put up a command center in OWWA. And currently, iyon pong ilan sa ating mga kababayang humihingi ng tulong, diyan po dumadaan lahat. And kung anuman ang amin pong information that we get, we always coordinate with the DMW and the DFA.

Currently, iyong isa pong OFW na asawa ni Gallenor Leandro Pacheco is with us para po naman mabigyan natin ng psycho-social intervention kasi siya po iyong misis noong atin pong hinahanap na isang OFW in Israel. So, we can assure you that with the experience that we’ve had, hindi naman po ito isang bagong bagay sa OWWA; we have been together to address crisis like this – in Egypt, Russia… lahat naman po ito naranasan na natin. And with this experience, we assure you that for any situation – OWWA, DMW and the DFA will be working hand-in-hand together para po mabigyan ng mga pangangailangan ang atin pong mga OFWs in Israel.

OSEÑA-PAEZ:Okay. Thank you. Let’s open the floor now to questions. Let’s start with Maricel Halili, TV-5.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Magandang hapon po. May we have an update about po doon sa repatriation of our Filipinos residing in Israel, gaano na po karami sa kanila iyong nagsabi na gusto na nilang magpa-repatriate; and, ready na po ba tayo for repatriation?

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: Magandang hapon. Una, kailangan nating maalala, tulad ng sinabi namin, iyong affected areas talaga kung saan pumasok iyong Hamas noong weekend are in the south of Israel. There are 30,000—roughly 30,500 Filipinos in Israel – the majority of those, the vast majority… 95% according to our embassy are not situated in the southern areas near Gaza ‘no. There are some cities of Israel in area such as Sderot, Ashdod and others… Be’er Sheva where we have some, a total of about 300 Filipinos and the embassy has been in touch with them to make sure that they’re all right.

Karamihan ng ating mga kababayan are in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem or Haifa; further up north. Wala pang nagsasabi na gusto nilang ma-repatriate. This situation between the Hamas and the Israeli authorities sadly is a cyclical thing which our kababayans are well aware of and they are very resilient just like the people they’re living with in Israel and they do not ask for repatriation whenever there is a conflict. Because by past experience, what happens is that… well, after a few days, hopefully this will be the case as well, tulad ng sinabi ng ating dalawang gentlemen dito ‘no… after a few days, there’s secession of hostilities; so they haven’t asked.

We are ready to repatriate them to bring them home if that’s what they want. The situation is different in Gaza, in Palestine where you have about 137 Filipinos – they are not OFWs, they are Filipino family members there, Filipinas married to Palestinians and some are—some of the 137 are minor children so they are also Philippine nationals and parami nang parami. But right now, according to our embassy in Amman, there are about 38 who’ve asked to be repatriated and we are in the process and we are working on it.

So doon po sa Gaza, mayroong nagpapa-repatriate; sa Israel, wala po.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Sir, just a quick confirmation. Mayroon na po ba tayong balita kung totoo na mayroong fatalities na Filipino in Israel because mayroong lumalabas na news na mukhang mayroon na raw?

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: We heard that. We cannot confirm that because we do not want to confirm anything without being one hundred percent sure of the facts. May I ask my colleagues here also to give the perspective from the DMW and OWWA?

DMW USEC. CACDAC: Yes, as far as we have been told by the Philippine Embassy, there is also close coordination with the IDF (Israel Defense Forces). Of course, for OFWs, we are also in touch with their employers so that we can get the full facts. And thus far, agree with Usec. Ed, there has been no confirmation of the reported fatality, although the matter has been forwarded to the Israeli side, to the Israeli government.

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: But we wish to emphasize also that the President himself has already stated, on behalf of the Filipino nation, that we condemn this act of violence, especially against civilians.

OSEÑA-PAEZ:Okay. Nestor Corrales, Philippine Daily Inquirer.

NESTOR CORRALES/PDI: Just a follow-up. May we know how many Filipinos are currently unaccounted for in Israel? And how many are held hostage, if any?

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: On that being held hostage, we have no absolute confirmation that there is a single Filipino being held hostage. But, yes, it is true that there are about seven Filipinos who, well, shall we say whose whereabouts, we are uncertain of ‘no. I’d like to ask my colleagues to share some details.

DMW USEC. CACDAC: Yes, we are hoping that the number of OFWs whose updates or status we are still trying to get ourselves updated with will continue to go down; it was around 15 or 16 last weekend. So, we have slowly accounted for the status of our respective OFWs. Of course, in total, it was 83 but slowly, we are updating their status and have accounted for most of them. So, hopefully, the trend continues and we’ll have a complete accounted roster of OFWs in Israel.

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: Iyong isa pa doon tulad ng nabanggit ni Administrator Arnell, well, nakita raw niya iyong asawa niya sa video. Iyong isa sa mga missing people pero, please, iyong tungkol sa misis—

OWWA ADMINISTRATOR IGNACIO: Yes, so the wife of Gallenor Leandro Pacheco ay nakita raw niya iyong kaniyang mister pero—

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: Sa video.

OWWA ADMINISTRATOR IGNACIO: Sa video, pero as I’ve said, we would like to be one hundred percent sure. So what we did is kinuha po natin iyong kaniyang wife and currently, nandoon siya sa OWWA ngayon para naman mas mabigyan siya nang mas … makalma natin, kasama iyong anak niya.

And karagdagan lang ‘no, we would like to let you know that most of the reports that you get, we also get them. But we are very, very careful as to what we will tell the media kasi katulad po ng mga nauna na mga reports, upon verification, hindi naman po totoo. And we’d like to appeal to our kababayan, each time that you make transmission from where you are, it can jeopardize your situation; maaari kayong ma-trace. And then pangalawa, it instills unnecessary fear doon po sa ating mga kababayan. So it’s best that we be very cautious about sharing information, unconfirmed, especially unconfirmed and unverified information bago natin sila ilabas.

So, I hope you understand bakit kami ay ingat na ingat na magbigay ng mga ganoong uri ng impormasyon.

Now, ano ba iyong katapat naman noon? As you see, as you observe, the DMW, DFA and OWWA, tuluy-tuloy na nagtatrabaho. Katulad ho noong simula na ang dami nating mga sinabi na hindi makita, ngayon ay bumababa na itong mga numerong ito, and tuluy-tuloy pa rin tayong hinahanap ito. Hindi lamang ang ating side ang nakikipagtulungan, in fact, IDF is also working closely with us. In fact, iyong ilan po sa ating mga nailigtas at nadala sa mas ligtas na lugar, ito po ay hinatid ng IDF ng Israel. So, we are working very closely with them.

DMW USEC. CACDAC: Idagdag ko lang, iyong isa pa lang unaccounted a few days back, iyong nagkaroon ng smoke inhalation, isa iyon sa mga dinalaw ng DMW at ng welfare office ni Admin Arnell, and she is safe. She is currently up in Tel Aviv already; recovered, wala na siya sa ospital.

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: Kaya nagpapasalamat din tayo sa state of Israel. Pangako ng Ambassador nila rito na hindi lang naman nila bibigyan ng proteksiyon iyong kanilang sariling citizens pero pati rin iyong mga iba, kasama na ang mga Pilipino doon.

To add to what Administrator Ignacio was saying, for example, we don’t want to be alarmists. Yes it is true na may missing Filipinos pero it’s possible that they are still in the bunkers; they are still being—kasi mayroon pa rin kaunting gun battles between Israeli forces and some Palestinian fighters in south of Israel, so maybe they’re still in hiding or so and eventually, lilitaw na rin, hopefully.

And also, on details, remember it’s a security situation so in case they were abducted, we don’t want, all the more, we don’t want to give details because that will endanger their lives; it will worsen their situation.

OSEÑA-PAEZ:Ivan Mayrina, GMA 7.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA7: Gentlemen, sir, good afternoon. Based on reports that we’ve been seeing from foreign media, Gaza City is under heavy bombing, perhaps as we speak. Mayroon ho ba tayong impormasyon kung anong kondisyon ng mga kababayan natin doon? At bukod po sa bombing, pinigil daw po ang supply ng pagkain, kuryente, fuel, even water papunta sa Gaza City?

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: All right. It is true, that there’s bombing and that—well, actually, Gaza has been lockdown—I’m sorry, you know, the Israelis since … for some years, you know, put a blockade on Gaza. And that’s part of the reason for the difficult relationship, you know, right now between the Palestinians and Israelis. Ang ating mga kababayan, so far, walang casualties, walang wounded because ang tina-target ng Israel, specifically, are Hamas targets. And we would like to think that our kababayans in Gaza are not, you know, involved in Hamas. And so, the Israelis themselves have said that they have been warning civilians in Gaza before they strike particular buildings ‘no.

As for the electricity, okay, this has been happening, this is not the first that this happened. And I’m sure our kababayans where they are, they are not in the best conditions right now, know what to do. Of course, some have already asked for repatriation, and it’s complicated by the fact there is no international airport in Gaza, there’s none. You can’t even leave by the sea because also of the blockade in the sea, there’s no port. But there’s always diplomatic initiative. There are exit points to both Israel or through Egypt which are heavily guarded by both Egypt and Israel. And so, there are measures now being undertaken so that we could hopefully bring them home as soon as possible. But right now, no casualties among the Filipinos in Gaza.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA7: Having mentioned all those challenges, Usec, how soon can we execute this plan to repatriate our kababayan, ito hong 38 na nagsabi na gusto nilang magpa-repatriate?

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: I don’t want to lie to you and give a date. I will tell you, as soon as possible.

OSEÑA-PAEZ:Harley Valbuena, DZME.

HARLEY VALBUENA/DZME: Hello. Good afternoon po, sirs. Usec. Cacdac, may we know if there are OFWs that are set to be deployed in Israel for the next few weeks or months? And in line with that, are we open on asking the President for a possible deployment ban sa Israel po?

DMW USEC. CACDAC: Okay. First question, right now deployment is on hold mainly because we know that the Ben Gurion International Airport is closed although there might have been developments in the last few hours on that. But nevertheless, we are in touch with…as you know there’s a government-to-government hiring arrangement in partnership with the Israeli labor and immigration authorities especially with respect to hotel workers. So, we are in close coordination with the Israeli PIBA (Population and Immigration Authority) – that’s the name of the government agency counterpart that we have and at a proper time deployment will resume especially for our G2G hotel workers for Israel and with respect to a deployment ban in general we’re looking toward Usec. Ed and the DFA because we know that the deployment ban framework is anchored on the alert level system, alert level set also by the Department of Foreign Affairs and this is in accordance with the law.

HARLEY VALBUENA/DZME: For now po, sir, on hold muna iyong deployment, tama po ba?

DMW USEC. CACDAC: Right now, what’s proceeding is the deployment of hotel workers. So, right now because of the alert, kasi it takes Alert Level Three to hold the deployment; Alert Level Two for new hires and Alert Level Three for all types of workers. So, wala pa tayo sa Alert Level Two, so technically, wala pa tayong deployment ban sa ngayon but again the situation we are in is that we have a government-to-government hiring arrangement with our Israeli counterparts. So, it’s a two-way street – we have to be well-coordinated with our Israeli Labor and Immigration counterparts before we even proceed kahit na walang ban.

OSEÑA-PAEZ:Okay. Allan Francisco, PTV4.

ALLAN FRANCISCO/PTV4: Hi, ma’am. Hi, gentlemen. Ilan po, sir, iyong aalis na iyon?

DMW USEC. CACDAC: Ang sa hotel workers kasi we are deploying around, on average, around let’s say 1,800 in a year kasi this is just the second year of implementation of the G2G arrangement; iyong sa caregivers naka-hold siya over the last year ‘no but sa hotel workers that’s ongoing – so that’s around 1,800 so that’s approximately maybe a 100 or so per month.

So, again the situation is manageable kasi nga nakatimbre tayo doon sa counterpart natin sa Israel – so, even before we say yes here, they have to say yes over there and vice versa. Sabay din magdi-decide bago matuloy iyong deployment.

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: May I add also. May sinabi si Usec, naka-hold iyong deployment ng caregiver last year – this has not to do with the working conditions of the caregivers but with the negotiations with the G2G agreement.

Karamihan ng mga Filipino sa Israel are caregivers but now we are working now for other workers including hotel workers; but iyong caregiver is a special case so they are negotiating with, well they were and then well now this happens so we will work on it after hostilities cease hopefully as soon as possible.

ALLAN FRANCISCO/PTV4: Sir, balikan ko lang iyong sitwasyon sa Israel. Anong point, sir, na kailangan nang magpatupad ng probably forced evacuation? I understand na kasasabi ninyo lang po kanina wala pang gustong mag-repatriate ng ating mga kababayan.

DMW USEC. CACDAC: Let me clarify iyong alert levels ‘no. Alert level, precautionary phase iyong Alert Level One, kapag nag-uumpisa na iyong…if there are insipient threats to the safety and security of our kababayans there, precautionary phase; Alert Level Two – restricted phase, meaning bawal nang magpadala ng bagong workers; Alert Level Three – voluntary repatriation, meaning sumama na iyong situation although there’s still order in the country; Alert Level Four, iyon na talaga iyong breakdown of order and practically a full scale war. By the way, we could have alert levels only in one particular place – hindi ito alert level ng entire country.

Our embassy in Amman which has jurisdiction over Gaza has recommended na ilagay na iyong Gaza to Alert Level Three which is voluntary repatriation, that’s why hindi pa mandatory. So, this will be clear with the President.

As for Israel, our embassy has not yet needed our recommendation although we are working, our task force is working by the presumption that we’re on the precautionary phase because we have to prepare ‘no.

So, as for when we will call on a mandatory evacuation – well, if the situation – we’d like to be optimistic ‘no – escalates not just what’s happening now but pretty much that the Israelis are no longer able to defend the citizenry and are themselves asking for foreigners to leave.

If you remember in Sudan recently, even the two warring factions were saying foreigners should leave – so that’s a great example of voluntary or mandatory repatriation.

The Israeli government is in control and now they are the ones undertaking operations against Gaza and so we’d like to call eventually for a peaceful solution and respect for international law and hopefully peace will prevail. So, wala pa tayo sa situation noon, hopefully our efforts now are on ensuring the safety and monitoring the safety of our kababayans including hopefully we’ll be able to find out what happened to the seven missing.

ALLAN FRANCISCO/PTV4: Thank you, sir.

OSEÑA-PAEZ:Okay. Alvin Baltazar, PBS.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/PBS: Usec. Cacdac, magandang hapon po. Usec, medyo clarification lang nang kaunti doon sa deployment. Parang sa pagkakasabi ninyo kanina, apparently mukhang suspended muna iyong deployment pero nabanggit ninyo rin kanina na parang lumalabas na selected lang iyong pansamantalang deployment ng mga manggagawa gaya ng hotel workers pupuwede silang tumuloy pa rin?

DMW USEC. CACDAC: Yeah. Kasi sa ngayon talagang walang deployment ng new hires ng caregivers, as mentioned by Usec. Ed mayroon pang negotiations to renew or to resume the deployment. Ngayon, what is functioning right now is the government-to-government hiring ng hotel workers, dalawa kasi iyon – government-to-government hiring ng caregivers maybe 2020, 2021 and then 2022 nagsimula iyong hotel workers.

So, naka-hold ngayon iyong sa caregivers but not, as mentioned by Usec. Ed, not related to the current situation because there are current negotiations taking place between both sides.

Ngayon, doon sa hotel workers mayroon pa ring government-to-government hiring. We’re looking at the airport situation in Israel and consult with our counterparts, iyong Labor and Immigration Authorities, as to whether puwede muling mag-resume. As I said, it’s a two-way street kahit sabihin natin ditong go na pero kung sabihin ng Israel side hold muna – then hold. And vice versa, kung sinabi nila sa atin na go na pero sabihin natin “Teka, sandali kung may alert level” ay hindi rin. Pero sa ngayon ay walang alert level so from our side walang impediment but we will still have to check with our Israeli counterparts – first iyong airport situation although we’ve heard some news na parang magbubukas or bukas na; and then second, whether or not we can already have that renewed flow of deployment ng hotel workers for Israel.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/PBS: So, ibig sabihin, Usec, ay naghihintay lang tayo ng go signal talaga?

DMW USEC. CACDAC: Yes, yes. Which only takes is just we will check with our Israeli counterparts kung okay na naman, kung bukas na naman, kasi nga since last weekend ay sarado iyong Ben Gurion International Airport. But what we’ve heard so far are press releases so we need to officially confirm.

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: Also, again I wish to emphasize that the conflict is in the southern part kasi imagine for example in the Philippines although the size is different ‘no – imagine Filipinos are mostly working for example in Metro Manila area and then the conflict will be somewhere in Mindanao – parang ganoon.

So, it doesn’t mean that our kababayans who are in Tel Aviv are in great danger right now although of course we have to take precautions. We just heard that’s common in Israel during these times – that’s a warning to the people “Opo, may darating na missile. Everybody to the bunk shelter,” while their iron dome handles or intercepts these missiles.

Iyong rockets fired by Gaza last weekend mostly were towards the southern cities. In fact, they caused a lot of damage and even deaths. There were a few which Tel Aviv pero by then humihina na iyon eh pagdating.

So our kababayans in Tel Aviv and in Haifa are of course monitoring the situation and they are in touch with the embassy and they are safe and right now, the situation is all towards Gaza in the extreme south or extreme areas of the border with the Gaza.

So again, iba iyong tungkol sa caregivers, hindi ito deployment suspension dahil nagkaroon ng giyera, ng hostilities. But even from last, you know what its cause, because we are disappointed with the way they have been treated. But there are new rules which we have to…kailangan makipagtugma sa POEA regulations.

And we are optimistic, we always have to be optimistic about as a diplomat, how peace would prevail.

MS DAPHNE OSEÑA-PAEZ: Undersecretary De Vega. I have a question. What are the latest travel updates, the Holy Land is a very popular tourist site for many Filipinos in the coming weeks. So people have already bought some trips?

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: We haven’t put a travel ban on Israel but our embassy has issued a Travel Advisory. So as much as possible, avoid traveling right now. I’m sure, even Israeli officials would echo that kasi, of course, if you insist though, the Holy Land sites are not where the hostilities are happening. For example, Jerusalem, which is about an hour’s drive away from Tel Aviv is closer to the West Bank or you might say, it’s part of the West Bank and Bethlehem is in the Palestinian territories, a few minutes from Jerusalem, wala doong hostilities; in the north, Nazareth, where Jesus Christ grew up ‘no, is also a popular tourist place.

We are not telling you not to go. But, we are advising you that it’s best, if possible to postpone them until we are absolutely sure that hostilities have ended because, after all, even the prime minister of Israel has said that we are in a state of war. So, it’s not normal for somebody who wants to visit a country which is in a state of war. So it’s not a ban, there’s no ban, but if you could, mamayang kaunti. Remember, if you are a tourist and there is a problem, there were some people nahirapang umuwi recently, pero nakauwi rin. So, an advisory is hold off muna.

MS DAPHNE OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay, any more questions? Okay Sam Medenilla, Business Mirror.

SAM MEDENILLA/BUSINESS MIRROR: For Usec. De Vega po. Itatanong lang po namin kung ano po iyong current na alert levels ng Gaza Strip at saka ng Israel po mismo?

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: Wala pong alert level iyong Israel because hindi pa niri-recommend ng embassy. Iyong Gaza, well of course walang official alert level, kasi wala naman tayong dini-deploy na Filipino workers doon. All the Filipinos there are there because they are married to Palestinians. Pero, ni-recommend na ng embassy, gawing Alert Level 3, iyong Gaza, meaning voluntary repatriation, which also means restricted place na iyan and hindi na na-announce sa final, pero we are going by that, parang de facto na kahit na hindi pa officially pinirmahan ni Presidente o in-announce, we could say that it’s on the voluntary repatriation na. And the only issue is, well voluntary repatriation, but how to repatriate them because that is what we are working on diplomatically. Because it’s not a simple matter po na magpapadala tayo ng eroplano, magha-hire ng charter na eroplano kasi wala nang flights of even ships. The normal way to get out of Gaza is through Israel, through the border of Israel but which is obviously close. So, let us assume, let’s work by the principle, by assumption that they are on Alert Level 3.

SAM MEDENILLA/BUSINESS MIRROR: Pero, sir, bakit hindi po Alert Level 4, the mandatory repatriation iyong recommended for Gaza Strip?

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: Well, because this is a situation which sadly is kind of a regular thing which the Filipinos in Palestine already know about. Pero it could go up, without saying it will; let’s see how the next few days go.

SAM MEDENILLA/BUSINESS MIRROR: Last na lang, sir. Magdi-deploy po ba iyong government ng augmentation team para po doon sa ongoing na preparation for possible repatriation?

DFA USEC. DE VEGA: They haven’t asked yet but we are all ready to do whatever it takes, including that.

DMW USEC. CACDAC: Lalo na kung bukas na iyong airport.

MS DAPHNE OSEÑA-PAEZ: Thank you and that concludes our press briefing today. Thank you, Undersecretary De Vega, Undersecretary Cacdac and Administrator Ignacio. Thank you, Malacañang Press Corps. Good afternoon.

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