- 2 years ago
The Philippine government orders the mandatory repatriation of nearly 100 Filipinos in Gaza amid the escalating war between Israel and Hamas.
But a crucial border crossing remains closed, leaving Palestinians and foreign nationals trapped in the enclave.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega tells us more in the program.
Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/
Follow our social media pages:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines
But a crucial border crossing remains closed, leaving Palestinians and foreign nationals trapped in the enclave.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega tells us more in the program.
Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/
Follow our social media pages:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 Welcome to The Source where we combine the headlines with in-depth conversations with
00:06 the newsmakers themselves.
00:08 I'm Pinky Webb.
00:09 Today on the program, the Philippine government orders the mandatory repatriation of nearly
00:15 100 Filipinos in Gaza amid the escalating war between Israel and Hamas.
00:20 But a crucial border crossing remains closed, leaving Palestinians and foreign nationals
00:25 trapped in the enclave.
00:27 Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega tells us more in the program.
00:33 And later, the Philippine Navy issues radio challenges to a Chinese warship after its
00:38 aggressive maneuvers near Pagasa Island.
00:41 Armed Forces Spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar joins us later in the show.
00:56 Two days since the Philippine government ordered the mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in
01:00 war-torn Gaza, around 92 Filipinos remain stuck in the Palestinian enclave.
01:07 The Foreign Affairs Department says it is hopeful a diplomatic solution will soon be
01:12 reached to allow Filipinos to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing, which connects to the
01:18 Egyptian border.
01:20 Let's go straight to the source of the story.
01:21 We have Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega.
01:26 Always a pleasure to have you.
01:28 And thank you so much for giving us your time, sir.
01:30 Good morning.
01:31 Always a pleasure.
01:32 Okay.
01:33 You said right now, how many Filipinos are already in the southern part of Gaza near
01:41 the Rafah crossing?
01:45 According to our embassy in Amman, every single one.
01:48 There's no Filipino left in northern Gaza or in Gaza City, which would be the site of
01:55 the hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
02:00 Some time ago, we were saying that there were 137 Filipinos in Gaza, and then it went down
02:05 to 131.
02:06 The number varies, depending on the registration.
02:10 But after we alerted, we put up alert level four, now there have been additional Filipinos
02:20 and there's a wife, sorry, a mother with three children who just called the embassy to say
02:27 they also want to go home.
02:30 And so that makes 135.
02:33 And out of the 135, at least 78, the crossing, trying to cross.
02:40 Not all of them want to, not all the 135 want to leave Gaza, but at least 78 do.
02:46 And it's only a question of when they'll finally be able to cross.
02:51 Of course, the embassy's in touch with them and telling them, don't just stay in the crossing
02:54 because it's not opening yet.
02:56 So they have found, you know, that place is not no man's land.
03:02 There are homes, there are places to stay nearby.
03:05 So out of the 135, right now, only 78 have actually signified their intention to want
03:12 to cross over to Egypt.
03:14 Yes, and there are a few more, as you mentioned, already 92.
03:19 There were a few more who indicated that they wanted to leave Gaza.
03:25 But it varies because sometimes they change their minds because we'll make it there.
03:31 As much as we'd like family reunification, of course, it's not all up to us.
03:36 It depends on Israelis and Egyptians.
03:39 And from what we understand, Palestinians will not be allowed to cross through Egypt.
03:44 It will only be foreign citizens, including Filipinos.
03:48 So that will mean the Filipino mothers or spouses of Palestinians and their children
03:53 who would carry Philippine citizenship, that they are among those numbered in the 135.
03:58 So we let's see what happens, because that would be a problem.
04:04 Yeah, that's actually a problem you have brought up ever since we started talking about this,
04:10 because Filipinos are married to Palestinians.
04:13 And the problem and the concern would be, it doesn't seem like, at least at the moment,
04:19 that their Palestinian husbands, if and when the humanitarian corridors open, will be allowed
04:25 to actually pass through or enter that corridor.
04:28 So there could be obviously and certainly concerns on wives who might not want to be,
04:35 might not want to leave or be separated from their husbands.
04:41 And that's the same situation that was the same situation in Ukraine.
04:45 When we tried to evacuate Filipinos of Ukraine, Filipino wives said that they would remain
04:49 with their husbands.
04:51 And also the Filipinos in Gaza, a lot of them say that, also Filipinos in Israel, for that
04:58 matter, say that this cycle of hostilities, of violence, is something they've actually
05:03 gotten used to.
05:05 Except we're saying now the Israelis, time and time again, including the Israeli ambassador
05:10 in Manila, have told us, have told the world that this time they're serious, they're going
05:15 to try to eradicate the Hamas infrastructure.
05:18 So it's going to be a very difficult situation in Gaza, or at least in the northern part.
05:26 Yusef, what I want to find out is, do you have any update on the condition of the Filipinos
05:33 over there in the southern part of Gaza?
05:37 And probably, most especially, those 78 that already are willing and wanting, rather, to
05:44 cross the border.
05:45 Yes, according to our ambassador, our ambassador, their embassy is in touch with them and they've
05:53 told them, yeah, well, don't just stay there, I mean, because it's not open yet.
05:59 So they're supposed to be looking, and some have looked for accommodations in the southern
06:05 part.
06:06 Unlike the case in Sudan, when we brought Filipinos from Khartoum, the capital of Sudan,
06:13 up north to the southern border, right now the situation is different, in that it's not
06:19 really the middle of the desert, it is a desert, but there are places nearby, it's not like
06:24 it's no man's land.
06:26 So they should have access to food and supplies, given that there are international organizations
06:35 there as well.
06:36 However, we're going to find reports that there's spoiled food or whatever, and we'll
06:44 check on them, because unfortunately we can't go in ourselves.
06:47 In fact, that's, why is, may I go to the issue, why is the crossing not open?
06:54 Because Egypt and Israel are discussing how to ensure that the opening of the crossing
07:01 will not be used for Hamas to escape into Egypt, or for hostages to be taken out of
07:06 Gaza because it's been controlled by the hostages.
07:09 There is a security concern, a big security concern there, Yusef.
07:15 And also, for incoming, for humanitarian aid, it should be legitimate aid instead of ammunitions.
07:22 So we're doing what we can.
07:27 The Israelis say it could be any day now that they open.
07:31 In fact, I think it was yesterday that I was watching the news and the US Secretary of
07:39 State, Antony Blinken, was actually, is rather, I believe in Egypt right now.
07:44 But Yusef, here's one of the concerns.
07:48 Because it's been, the food supply, electricity, and the water supply could possibly be running
07:57 out by now.
08:00 We're looking at, when did this begin, October 7.
08:04 So it's been about nine, I would say nine days since.
08:10 And of course, that warning that no food, no water, no electricity, they will cut that
08:16 in Gaza.
08:18 That's the concern I have with regards to the Filipinos and other nationals, and Palestinians
08:23 as well, sir.
08:24 I wonder if they actually have enough supplies as we speak.
08:29 All right.
08:31 We talked to the Israeli ambassador about this, and he called on our foreign secretary,
08:38 also called on the president last week.
08:40 He clarified, internally Gaza has food, has electricity, has water.
08:48 And of course, they went through the problem of the Hamas leadership, that they're not
08:54 delivering on basic services.
08:56 But internally they have, what Israel has cut, he explained, was their provisions.
09:05 In other words, it was like a sort of a donation or something that Israel provides as assistance,
09:13 regular assistance to the Palestinian people, food, extra food, extra water, extra electricity.
09:19 But now because of this attack, they've cut that.
09:21 But he said there should be no humanitarian crisis because internally there is.
09:27 And according to our embassy, there are supplies internally.
09:31 And according to our embassy in Amman, the Filipinos report that there is electricity,
09:37 but it's not 24 hours.
09:38 There is food, but, well, I don't know how long it would last, but there is food.
09:45 That's the question.
09:46 The thing is, they should not stay in the cross.
09:49 Because there's no electricity there and their cell phones would run out.
09:53 You said-
09:54 If they're just in there.
09:55 Right.
09:56 So the Filipinos are there, 78 of them wanting to leave.
10:00 Tell us more about diplomatic talks, how they are proceeding to be able to open this humanitarian
10:07 corridor.
10:08 Yes.
10:09 That is, well, you've mentioned Secretary Lincoln was in Cairo.
10:14 He's left.
10:15 He was on the Middle East tour.
10:17 And he called on the sides to get to an arrangement, including the allowance of humanitarian aid
10:25 to enter Gaza and for the crossing to finally be allowed to open.
10:31 So I, we're not privy to these inside talks, but we are definitely engaging with both Egyptians
10:37 and Israelis.
10:38 So hopefully it could, in fact, there was word that they would open last weekend, but
10:45 something happened.
10:46 So something internal happened.
10:49 So I believe it could be any day now, I think by the weekend, it would open.
10:55 We would see Filipinos crossing.
10:57 Let me also clarify, once they cross the border, it doesn't mean they're in Egypt, home free
11:03 to go wherever they want.
11:05 They will stay at the holding center at the Egyptian side while their entry is being processed
11:14 because their names are already with the Egyptian government.
11:17 So it will take some time, maybe a day or so before their visas are stamped and they
11:22 enter.
11:23 And when you're there, you're in the Sinai Peninsula.
11:26 That's not the mainland of Egypt.
11:28 That's part of Egypt.
11:29 But they'll have to be brought and we're ready to do it from the Sinai Peninsula, across
11:34 Sinai Peninsula, it takes five or six hours, all the way to Cairo, all the way to the mainland
11:39 of Egypt.
11:40 And from there, we'll repatriate them, we'll fly them home.
11:43 So of course, that's a difficulty in Gaza now.
11:48 And we're confident, though, that, not just hopeful, but confident that eventually we
11:55 will be able to bring home those who want to leave Gaza.
11:59 We need to take a short break.
12:00 This is The Source on CNN Philippines.
12:02 Please stay tuned.
12:09 You're watching The Source on CNN Philippines.
12:11 I'm Pinky Webb, our source today, Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Eduardo de Vega.
12:17 I want to talk about Israel.
12:18 I believe the last time we spoke, I do recall you saying that the first batch, supposed
12:24 to be of those who want to leave Israel, Filipinos, were supposed to fly out Tuesday.
12:31 And that is today.
12:32 Did that happen?
12:33 And if so, how many actually left?
12:35 It's scheduled, yes.
12:38 They're flying today and arriving tomorrow in the afternoon, around 4 p.m., by Ihad.
12:46 There's 17 of them.
12:48 There's one more, making 18, leaving in a few days by just one person.
12:52 But we're talking about the 17 now, and the government is prepared to receive them, including
12:59 DOH, DSWD.
13:02 These are Filipinos, including, I believe, about eight who came from the south of Israel.
13:09 I see.
13:10 Who have gone because of the economic reasons, or because they lost their jobs, because their
13:19 employee died, or because of hostility.
13:21 So that's the first batch.
13:24 And DMW would have information about future patriotism.
13:27 But this is the first one prepared by the migrant workers office there in Tel Aviv.
13:33 I see.
13:34 But 17, and then another one.
13:37 Can we expect more?
13:39 How many actually signified their intention to leave Israel?
13:43 If we listen, according to Mr. Kakda, if we listen to how many intended, there's a lot,
13:51 a lot, a lot, a lot, many dozen.
13:54 But when you tell them, all right, we'll repatriate you now, they change their minds.
14:03 Yeah, because, well, they'll lose their jobs or what.
14:06 So right now, I think what he's targeting, what Mr. Kakda, and you could ask him, he's
14:12 targeting is another repatriation about the same number.
14:15 But we'd have to, how do you say, I don't want to say round it up because they're not
14:19 suspects, but we'd have to get the numbers.
14:23 The good news, though, is that that means they'd be relatively safe.
14:28 Filipinos in the south have been evacuated to Tel Aviv.
14:32 And even in the north, where there is now skirmishes or attacks by the Hezbollah, the
14:37 Israeli Defense Force have evacuated the residents, including Filipinos from the north.
14:42 So Israel now is not under alert level because, although we have put alert level two, it's
14:49 not under voluntary or mandatory repatriation.
14:53 We're not sending new people there.
14:55 But the situation for Israelis is more stable.
14:58 Yeah.
14:59 And Yusek, I guess that answers my next question.
15:01 Question rather, there's no need to elevate the alert level, the present alert level two
15:06 over there in Israel.
15:08 I want to get more information if you can, or any update.
15:12 I believe there are unfortunately three died.
15:16 And are there still three that are missing, Yusek?
15:20 Yes, unfortunately, there are still three are missing.
15:24 Of course, I said before, hope springs eternal.
15:26 They could just be hiding.
15:29 They could just be very private and not want to be contacted.
15:36 It is concerning, though, that Hamas has confirmed that they do have hostages.
15:41 So maybe the three are with them.
15:44 The Israelis say they will conduct a search and rescue in Gaza.
15:49 So we'll see what happens.
15:51 But at least if they're missing, it means they're not yet confirmed dead.
15:58 And so hope springs eternal.
16:01 We pray for them.
16:02 As for the three who are confirmed as casualties, the Israelis also promised that under the
16:09 law, they will provide assistance to the next of kin.
16:15 That's what they did to a previous Filipino who was killed by terrorists some years ago.
16:19 So they will also assist in their perpetration of the remains, which hopefully will be in
16:24 the next few weeks.
16:26 Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vegas, sir, thank you so much for your time.
16:30 Always a pleasure, madam.
16:33 Thank you.
16:34 And coming up, tensions between the Philippine and Chinese Navy grow after the armed forces
16:39 accused China of pulling new dangerous maneuvers in its latest resupply mission in the West
16:44 Philippine Sea.
16:45 AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar tells us more after the break.
16:50 This is The Source on CNN Philippines.
16:52 Please stay tuned.
16:52 [music]
16:56 (thunder)
Comments