President Rodrigo Duterte has suggested that the Congress of the Philippines conduct a special session to endow the government with ample contingency fund relevant to the escalating tension between the United States of America (USA) and Iran. Said fund, among others, will facilitate the possible pullback of Filipinos currently situated in the Middle East.
Alongside his recommendation to the legislature, the Chief Executive expressed his fear about the USA-Iran conflict which will shudder a considerable number of Filipinos. “We, Filipinos, are, really, in great peril. We have so many millions, . . . three, I think, of Filipinos working mainly in Middle East. Kinakabahan ako. Iran seems to be . . . a retaliation which I think will come. It’s a matter of time” (We, Filipinos, are really in great peril. We have so many millions, . . . three, I think, of Filipinos working mainly in Middle East. I am nervous. Iran seems to be . . . a retaliation which I think will come. It’s a matter of time), moaned the Head of State.
Before his statement, President Duterte had gathered the officials of the Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines; he told them to prepare for the possible repatriation of Filipinos in said area.
The Malacañan, concerning the USA-Iran strain, informed that the Chief Executive had created a special working committee on the matter. The members of the body are the secretaries of the DND, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Transportation, and the national security adviser. Further, he instructed Department of Environment and Natural Resources chief and Special Envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimatu to head the region for coordination with other host countries with respect to the possible rescue of Filipinos there. Moreover, the palace stated that the Head of State directed Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mamao to proceed to Iran and Iraq on January 07, 2020 to ice the safety of the compatriots there. Last, the Malacañan guaranteed that the administration prepares for all the consequences of the conflict.
