Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17504889836251750488981934.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rocket trails are seen in the sky above the Israeli coastal city of Netanya amid a fresh barrage of Iranian missile attacks on June 16, 2025. <em>Jack Guez, AFP </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday urged Filipinos in Israel, Iran, and their relatives here in the Philippines to stay calm and not panic after the agency raised Alert Level 3, just as they told them not to be swayed by misinformation on social media.</p><p>In a Saturday news forum, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Robert Ferrer said there has been panic and worry going on as Israel and Iran’s war continues, which he attributed to &quot;misinformation.&quot;</p><p>“If you ask most of our Filipinos in Tel Aviv, they are calm, they don’t want to go home. They believe in the Israeli system to protect them, to take care of them,” Ferrer told reporters.</p><p>Declaring Alert Level 3 in the two countries, he said, is part of the embassies’ and government’s preparations should things escalate.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/6/20/alert-level-3-raised-dfa-orders-voluntary-repatriation-of-filipinos-in-israel-iran-2230">Alert Level 3 raised: DFA orders voluntary repatriation of Filipinos in Israel, Iran</a></div><p>Ferrer, reading a message from Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola, said while there is danger there, essential services are still available and offices were not shuttered.</p><p>“Walang patid ang internet, telepono, at ibang utilities. Panatag at mahinahon naman ang mga mamamayan ng Israel kabilang ang mga Pilipino, natutugunan din nang mabilis ang mga nasalanta at nanganagilangan ng tulong. Bukas ang mga mall, restaurant, at mga park,” he added.</p><p>(Internet, phone and other utilities remain uninterrupted. The citizens of Israel as well as the Filipinos there are calm and the needs of those affected are being addressed. Malls, restaurants and parks are open)</p><p>Based on Ambassador Mendiola’s message read by Ferrer, the Israeli Defense Forces already adjusted its security guidelines that loosened restrictions allowing “limited activities” from “essential only.”</p><p>All these considered, he reassured the families of the 30,000 overseas Filipinos in Israel that they are okay and secure.</p><p>“Kapag all clear na, they go back to their cafes, ang nagpa-panic ay mga kamag-anak nila and they are the ones reassuring their relatives back here,” he said.</p><p>“It is as if the Filipinos there are hardened, like Filipinos in Lebanon. They treat these missile attacks as super typhoons natin. Mag-iingat tayo but after okay na, life goes on. Yun ang assurance natin,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/20/ph-officials-evacuated-from-israel-back-in-manila-0749">PH officials evacuated from Israel back in Manila</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>NO MANDATORY EVACUATION YET</strong></div><p>Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said they did not make evacuation mandatory or raise the Alert Level 4 in both countries since it is only used for war zones.</p><p>“Ang mandatory evacuation, in Alert Level 4, is used for warzones meaning untenable situations. No Filipino should be in that place because you cannot live there,” De Vega said.</p><p>“Ang great example is Gaza, we brought home every single Filipino, lagpas 100 lang naman but c’mon. Whether you are Gaza or Filipino, it is an untenable situation. Israel is not. Meaning, kung walang missiles, there are offices, restaurants, also Iran,” he added.</p><p>While Tehran is being attacked, this did not mean that individuals would no longer be able to live in Iran.</p><p>“Of course it is unpleasant right now with the Israeli attacks but we will await the recommendation of the ambassadors. Alert Level 4 will alarm everybody,” said the official.</p><p>De Vega said 26 Filipinos out of the nearly 200 who had expressed to be repatriated from Israel, would arrive either Monday or Tuesday next week.</p><p>The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is on top of this, he said..</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/6/20/wounded-filipinos-in-israel-rise-to-8-one-critical-0944">Wounded Filipinos in Israel rise to 8, one critical</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>NO FURTHER ESCALATION SEEN BETWEEN ISRAEL, IRAN</strong></div><p>De Vega and Don Mclain Gill, a geopolitical analyst, said the tension between Israel and Iran is seen to no longer escalate for now.</p><p>“Let us hope it would not escalate into full war. It is a reality, it might be a seasonal thing. Every 3 or 4 months they’ll fire each other. It is bad enough that they are fighting missiles with each other. But if you mean land war, no. Or escalation meaning to other countries? No,” said De Vega. </p><p>Gill, for his part, said it was hard to conclude when the war would end based on the current situation .</p><p>“It is very difficult to say when we could actually see lasting peace. I don’t want to be a bearer of bad news but I just don’t see that happening anytime soon,” he said.</p><p>I don’t think there would be ground forces in. I think it will be contained to just this. Maybe an increase in frequency at some point but not necessarily a ground level attack that would take place.</p><p>The war between Israel and Iran was reignited last week after Israeli forces bombed Iranian nuclear facilities and missile factories, describing the attack as a “preemptive strike.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/6/20/what-we-know-about-the-ongoing-iran-israel-war-2030">What we know about the ongoing Iran-Israel war</a></div><p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Iran has been stockpiling nuclear weapons in the past few years to attack Israel.</p><p>Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameini vowed to avenge his slain countrymen, saying that they will retaliate against the &#x27;Zionist regime.&#x27;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K3iGUd4zDSc?si=ezzGic6x2N3VkO-j" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday urged Filipinos in Israel, Iran, and their relatives here in the Philippines to stay calm and not panic after the agency raised Alert Level 3, just as they told them not to be swayed by misinformation on social media.</p>

Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday urged Filipinos in Israel, Iran, and their relatives here in the Philippines to stay calm and not panic after the agency raised Alert Level 3, just as they told them not to be swayed by misinformation on social media.

DFA officials to Pinoys: No need to panic as Alert Level 3 raised in Iran, Israel

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DFA officials to Pinoys: No need to panic as Alert Level 3 raised in Iran, Israel

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 21, 2025 03:54 PM PHT

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Iran

Israel

Alert Level 3

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