Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Marlowe Miranda has urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to impose Alert Level 4 or a mandatory evacuation amid ongoing Israeli jet strikes on Beirut. The lives of around 15,000 Filipino domestic helpers and their dependents are at risk. Miranda highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis in Lebanon due to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Marlowe Miranda is pressing the Department of Foreign Affairs to declare Alert Level 4 for a mandatory evacuation of Filipinos while routes to Syria remain open. In a recent ABS-CBN interview, Miranda described the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in southern Lebanon, where millions of Lebanese have fled to Beirut, as alarming. Israel has occupied parts of Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah strongholds, leading to over 2,000 deaths and thousands injured.
Migrant expert Manny Geslani noted that Filipino domestic helpers in Beirut have so far escaped Israel's bomb and rocket attacks. However, Miranda fears escalation in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict—a militia proxy of Iran—as rockets continue to target Beirut.
Miranda recommends that the DFA and Department of Migrant Workers begin repatriations immediately. Meanwhile, the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul reported that a third batch of 10 repatriates left on April 7 for Manila via Bangkok.
