The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Amid rapidly escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv has mobilized its crisis management team to ensure the safety of thousands of Filipinos in the region.
Ambassador Aileen Mendiola is at the helm of the Embassy’s ongoing response efforts, which include close coordination with Israeli and Philippine authorities, real-time monitoring of the situation, and issuing safety updates to the Filipino community.
“The safety and well-being of Filipinos in Israel remain the Embassy’s top priority,” the Embassy said in a statement dated June 13.
“The Embassy urges the Filipino community to follow the Israel Defense Force Home Front Command’s security guidelines and the Embassy’s safety advisories, as well as to be alert and ready to act.”
In an interview with Radyo Pilipinas on Saturday, Ambassador Mendiola described the tense atmosphere on the ground, saying Israel has been fending off missile attacks from Iran. Midway through the interview, sirens blared in the background, forcing her to seek shelter as another air raid warning was issued.
She noted that Tel Aviv alone experienced at least a dozen siren alerts on Friday, with southern parts of Israel bracing for further attacks the following day.
“Ang Israel ngayon ay may seven fronts na kinakaharap. (Kasama ang) Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Houthis sa Yemen, ang binabantayan nila ay pito pero sa ngayon ang pinakamaigting ay ang problema with Iran (Israel is facing seven fronts. These include Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and the Houthis in Yemen, but the most pressing concern now is Iran),” Mendiola said.
“Kahapon, mayroon ding panaka-nakang mga missiles na nanggagaling sa mga Houthis sa Yemen (Yesterday, there were also missile strikes coming from the Houthis in Yemen).”
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has assured the public that, as of now, no Filipino has been reported injured amid the ongoing exchange of air strikes between Israel and Iran.
According to the DFA, there are approximately 30,742 Filipinos currently living in Israel and around 1,180 in Iran, most of whom are spouses of Iranian nationals.