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Jean Mangaluz - Philstar.com
March 3, 2026 | 12:11pm
This handout satellite image taken by 2026 Planet Labs PBC on March 1, 2026 shows a view of smoke rising from damage at the US Fifth fleet naval base in Bahrain's capital Manama after it was hit by Iranian strikes.
AFP / 2026 Planet Labs PBS
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, March 3, urged Filipinos in the Middle East to follow local advisories and stay put for now, as repatriation efforts by land and air remain hindered by the ongoing conflict.
In a press briefing on March 3, Marcos said that the government has already received multiple requests from overseas Filipino workers across the Middle East seeking repatriation.
Around 586 OFWs from Dubai have asked for repatriation, 297 from Israel, 270 from Abu Dhabi, 231 from Bahrain, and 22 from Jordan. This brings the total to around 1,400 OFWs who have requested repatriation in the Middle East.
“Ito ngayon ang problema. Ang problema, walang lumilipad na eroplano. At ‘yung mga airport ay tinatamaan na,” Marcos said.
(Here now is the problem. The problem is, there are no airplanes. And the airports are being hit.)
Marcos said he was worried about commercial flights being hit, noting that even United States fighter jets were reportedly taken out by Kuwait in friendly fire.
Land repatriation is also possible, but even that is dangerous at this point, Marcos said, fearing that mass movements of people could be misidentified in an active combat zone.
“That is also dangerous. Although that will be the best option that we will have in the immediate future,” Marcos said.
“The advice that we give to our citizens is to look for a safe place and go there and you stay there, and you stay in a safe place and stay indoors and stay away from areas of danger,” Marcos said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Citing Israel as the most dangerous place to be right now, the president said the government is negotiating with hotels near bomb shelters in the area to allow Filipinos to stay closer to them.
“We will slowly try to find ways for those who want to be repatriated, we will find ways to get you out safely,” Marcos said.
The US and Israel launched a series of attacks on Iran, prompting retaliation across the region. Around 2.2 million Filipinos reside in the Middle East for work.
