PHILIPPINES: Malacañang has pushed back against remarks from Vice President Sara Duterte suggesting that the government could simply send aircraft to the Middle East to bring home stranded Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), saying such a move is not possible while regional airspace remains closed due to ongoing conflict.
In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro explained that the closure of airspace in affected areas makes it impossible for Philippine aircraft to operate safely in the region.
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Palace Explains Why Rescue Flights Can’t Be Sent Yet
Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. raised the issue during a recent Cabinet meeting, emphasizing that sending flights without clearance could put Filipino passengers at greater risk.
“When the airspace is closed, aircraft simply cannot fly there,” Castro said, responding to the Vice President’s suggestion that chartering a plane would be an easy solution.
She added that the President’s priority is to ensure that any evacuation effort does not endanger the lives of Filipinos caught in the crisis.
According to Castro, the President warned that rushing evacuation flights without proper coordination could expose passengers to potential danger, including the possibility of being caught in military activity in the region.
VP Sara Earlier Suggested Chartering Flights
The Vice President earlier said the government could charter a commercial aircraft to bring home Filipinos affected by the Middle East conflict.
She cited her experience as mayor of Davao City during the COVID 19 pandemic, when the city government funded chartered flights to transport stranded passengers.
However, Malacañang stressed that the situation in a conflict zone is significantly different from organizing domestic rescue flights during a public health emergency.
Other Countries Already Conducting Evacuation Flights
Several governments have already begun evacuation operations for their nationals.
According to Reuters, the United States has completed more than a dozen charter flights, evacuating thousands of Americans from parts of the Middle East in the past week.
The United Kingdom is also planning to charter a flight from Dubai for British nationals who want to leave the region, according to a BBC report.
Ireland recently arranged a chartered flight from Oman to bring stranded citizens home, while Japan has already conducted evacuation flights for its nationals.
NHK reported that a government chartered plane carrying Japanese tourists and residents stranded in the Middle East has already landed safely in Japan.
First Batch of OFWs Already Back in the Philippines
Despite the limitations on air travel, the Philippine government has begun repatriation efforts using available routes and coordination with regional partners.
On Sunday, 90 OFWs and their family members successfully returned to the Philippines from the United Arab Emirates.
Officials said more batches of returning Filipinos are expected in the coming weeks as the situation continues to develop and as safe travel routes become available.