Manila, Philippines — Singapore has offered to help repatriate Filipinos stranded in Saudi Arabia as tensions escalate in the Middle East.
Singapore’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Constance See, said the offer was already conveyed to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Filipinos may be allowed to board Singaporean military aircraft being sent to the region to bring home Singaporean nationals.
A Republic of Singapore Air Force A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft is scheduled to deploy to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 12. The number of seats available for Filipinos will depend on the DFA’s response.
The assistance follows an ASEAN agreement where member countries support each other’s citizens during emergencies or conflicts, especially in areas where some countries lack diplomatic presence.
Rising tensions in the Middle East began after US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran targeting nearby Gulf countries.
The situation raises concerns for the Philippines, as more than 2.4 million Filipinos live and work in the Middle East, making their safety a top priority for the government.
Source GMA News
