With the government saying that it is prioritizing the safety of Filipinos overseas amid the ongoing conflict in the region.
According to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, on Monday, March 9 (in New York), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has arranged chartered flights for Filipinos seeking repatriation to the Philippines.
“Today, 16 OFWs from Tel Aviv (Israel) traveled by land to the southern Israel town of Eilat, which borders Egypt via the Taba border crossing,” she noted, adding that these 16 OFWs will cross the Egyptian border and will take a flight from Cairo to Muscat to Manila flight to arrive on Wednesday, March 11 (Philippine time).
She added that another group will arrive in Manila on Tuesday, March 10, “We have 20 OFWs (from Dubai) with 9 OFW dependents who travel from Dubai to Oman via the Khatmat-Malaha border crossing in northern Oman.”
They will add to the more than 400 Filipinos who returned to the Philippines since the conflict in the Middle East began last February 28.
In the United Arab Emirates, the Philippine government also booked commercial flights for overseas Filipino workers and their dependents coming from Dubai via Emirates Airlines.
Over in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the DMW is arranging flights for Filipino repatriates with the earliest departure on March 14, 2026.
This repatriation operation will be funded through the Emergency Repatriation Fund of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, an attached agency of the DMW.
MARCOS ‘ENRAGED‘ BY INCIDENT IN PH EMBASSY IN BAHRAIN
Meanwhile, Castro also shared that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was enraged over the reported mistreatment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by a Migrant Workers Office (MWO) employee in Bahrain.
In a now-viral Facebook video, a man in a violet shirt identified as Anthony Allermo was seen speaking to the OFWs who were seeking for aid amid the conflict.
However, he responded in what netizens described as an “arrogant manner,” and at one point, even reportedly told the Filipinos, “magsumbong na kayo kung kanino ninyo gustong magsumbong.”
“Hindi po pinalagpas ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang pangyayari sa pagitan ni MWO Bahrain employee, Anthony Allermo, at mga overseas Filipino workers doon. Hindi po ito ikinatuwa ng Pangulo. Nagalit siya para sa ating mga OFWs dahil sa pagmamaltrato ng ilang public servant,” said Castro.
In line with that, the President has instructed Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac to investigate and take appropriate action regarding the alleged mistreatment of several OFWs by certain public servants.
Castro said Allermo has been recalled to his home office while the administrative investigation against him is ongoing, and told him that should not have abused his authority—stressing that arrogance or disregarding the welfare of fellow Filipinos abroad has no justification.
“Noong nakita ng Pangulo ang nag-viral na video na nagpapakita kay Allermo sa hindi magandang pagtrato sa mga OFWs ay agad niyang inutusan si DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac na mag-imbestiga at umaksyon sa naturang insidente,” Castro said.
The Palace Press Officer urged that any official unwilling or unable to serve fellow Filipinos with full commitment should immediately resign from their post.
