(Eagle News) — If Filipinos in the Middle East are harmed amid the rising tensions between Iran and Iraq, and the United States, the Philippines will side with the US, the Palace said on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
In a press conference, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said this was the position President Rodrigo Duterte made known during the 45th Cabinet meeting on Monday, Jan. 6, in which he expressed concerns about the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle East following the US killing of Iran’s top military official, Qassam Soleimani.
“Hindi tayo magiging neutral. The President was very specific in saying last night that if the Filipinos are harmed, he will side with the Americans,” Panelo said.
Duterte has ordered several Cabinet members to craft a repatriation plan for OFWs in the Middle East.
This included asking Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mamao to go to Iran and Iraq to deliver Duterte’s message to the governments there that no Filipino should be harmed during the conflict.
Duterte gave the order to some of his Cabinet members after he told the Armed Forces of the Philippines to be ready with its assets to repatriate should open hostilities break out in the region.