INTERIOR Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced Wednesday that 11 vice mayors from Bulacan, along with possibly one mayor, traveled to Dubai last week and are now stranded due to the ongoing regional conflict triggered by Israel-US strikes on Iran.
Remulla explained that the officials left in their personal capacity with travel authority granted as long as no government funds were used. “They left Wednesday last week. The vice mayors from Bulacan have travel authority, around 11 of them. Now, they are stuck in Dubai,” he said. He also noted that the officials have yet to formally seek assistance from his office, and authorities are verifying reports that one mayor may have traveled without the proper travel authorization.
Meanwhile, Remulla emphasized that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is prepared to assist in the possible repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East.
“One million Filipinos in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are caught in the middle of a war. I might have to go there and start arranging their return,” Remulla stated.
The DILG chief described the logistics of a mass evacuation as a “million-dollar question,” noting the limited availability of long-range aircraft among commercial airlines. Philippine Airlines has about 50 planes, but only half are capable of servicing Middle East routes, while Cebu Pacific has two aircraft suitable for the trip.
“If we can bring back 5,000 passengers a day, dividing one million by 4,000, that’s roughly 250 days of continuous effort. The logistics are challenging, but if necessary, we will do our best to bring everyone home,” he said.
Remulla also highlighted the limited government assets, stating, “All we have are fighter jets and turboprops that can protect the country,” and that the government might need to charter commercial maritime vessels if needed.
The government is currently weighing options, from monitoring the situation and waiting for the conflict to subside to executing a full-scale evacuation. “Let’s not make harsh decisions or statements. I’m just giving an overview of what’s happening,” he added.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) also expressed readiness to support repatriation efforts. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said, “We are ready to provide manpower and resources for any plan of the lead agencies to bring our kababayan home. We are putting sufficient personnel on standby.”
Data from the government indicate that around 2.5 million Filipinos are working and residing in the Middle East. Of these, at least 1,400 have expressed their intention to return following recent airstrikes reported in the region since February 28.
The Department of Migrant Workers clarified that there is no mass repatriation underway but assured the public that the government is prepared to assist affected OFWs should the situation worsen.
