Stranded vice mayors on way back to Philippines

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March 6, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —   The 11 vice mayors from Bulacan who got stranded in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates while on a personal trip in the Middle East are on their way back to the Philippines, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said yesterday.

According to Remulla, the officials had already purchased tickets for a return flight when the US and Israel began bombardment of Iran.

Remulla did not say when the officials would arrive in the country.

He said the vice mayors secured a travel authority from the Department of the Interior and Local Government for a personal trip to the Middle East. They left the country on Feb. 25.

Meanwhile, Remulla apologized to a mayor whom he earlier said was on the trip even without a travel authority.

It turned out that the mayor, whom he did not identify, did not leave the country.

“That’s my fault and I apologized to the mayor,” Remulla said.