Tovic Salvador

Rescue missions for OFWs in Middle East require ‘comprehensive planning’, AFP says

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177313600643920260310 (5).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>This long exposure shows trails from projectile interceptions by Israel&#x27;s Iron Dome missile defence system over Tel Aviv on February 28, 2026.  Jack Guez, Agence France-Presse/file</div>MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday mounting a rescue mission for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in conflict areas is not as simple as deploying an aircraft, stressing that such operations require extensive planning and coordination.Speaking at a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco explained that several factors must be considered before an aircraft can be dispatched.“In this aspect, we have to consider several things like yung prepositioning natin, ground control, coordination on the ground, and this is miles away. Medyo malayo po ito,” Basco told reporters.“Also the issues about diplomatic clearances, and yung consolidation, repatriation and extraction. It needs a very comprehensive plan para po ensured na safe yung ating pag-transport,” she added.The remarks come after Vice President Sara Duterte claimed that the government could simply send an aircraft to the Middle East to bring home OFWs amid the ongoing conflict there.Basco noted that operating in a wartime environment presents greater risks compared to previous missions, such as those conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.“It needs coordination, lalo na in this kind of situation na talagang conflict wartime po tayo unlike po nung COVID—you know, it [was] more of a health risk. Now, we are considering, siyempre po, yung conflict, yung safety po ng hindi lang ng movement, but lahat, even the aircraft at lahat po ng nandoon sa airspace,” Basco said.She added, “It would pose some challenges and that&#x27;s why we need comprehensive planning for that.”AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla echoed Basco’s remarks, reiterating that any rescue mission abroad involves coordination among various government agencies.“There&#x27;s a lot of intricacies in conducting this kind of operations and this is not just the AFP to act on. So, the AFP will act on it in accordance with the directives from higher agencies. So, this is a fusion of efforts from the DMW [Department of Migrant Workers], from the Department of Foreign Affairs, from, of course, the directive from the DND [Department of National Defense],” Padilla explained.She continued, “So, rest assured po that our planners are, sabi nga po, burning the midnight oil. Hindi po natin nakakalimutan na priority natin ang safety and security ng ating mga kababayan abroad.”Basco, meanwhile, said the PAF has yet to receive a formal request to assist in the repatriation operations being conducted by the DMW.“Actually, naghihintay po tayo. We are maintaining a high level of preparedness. Iniexpect na rin po natin iyan, although we await the official guidance coming from the DMW, DFA and DND,” the official noted.The Philippine Navy likewise said it is prepared to assist if ordered by higher headquarters.“Your Philippine Navy is always ready to respond but we will also wait for instructions coming from higher headquarters regarding the repatriation,” Philippine Navy spokesperson Captain Marissa Arlene Martinez said. “With this, we are capable. Your Navy is very capable.”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said mounting a rescue mission for overseas Filipino workers in conflict areas is not as simple as deploying an aircraft.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said mounting a rescue mission for overseas Filipino workers in conflict areas is not as simple as deploying an aircraft.