OVERSEAS Filipino Workers living in Jerusalem are still safe and sound as said by a VACC official who has been living in Israel for almost 20 years, however, fears of possible escalation still loom.
As the fighting continues between Israel and Hamas, various countries, including the Philippines, have condemned the hostilities, with the government assuring that it is closely coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv to ensure the safety of all Filipinos.
Various OFW organizations are also closely coordinating with the embassy as well as Israeli authorities.
Marvin Cuellar, chief coordinator of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), has been going around Jerusalem to check on the current conditions of fellow Filipinos living in the area.
“Sa Jerusalem ay peaceful, like kaninang umaga, naground-round ako, kinamusta ang mga kababayan…100% safe naman kami sa part ng Jerusalem,” according to Marvin Cuellar, Chief Coordinator of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).
Unlike other areas in Israeli territory, Marvin said that Jerusalem has been so far quiet apart from the blare of sirens heard when Hamas recently unleashed a barrage of rockets. This is because of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which sits in the heart of the walled city.
“’Yun lang pong mga nasa mga dangerous area like kasi from Jerusalem to that border dun sa may bakbakan ngayon yung tinatawag na combatting na nirerecover ng Israeli Govt ‘yung 3 settlement kahit na gustohin naming i-rescue ‘yung mga naipit na mga workers doon lalo na yung mga agro student natin ay di tayo papayagan ng army ng mga nakapasok kasi even na even though magkaroon sila ng settlement ng window period na inanounce ng army na ok you can enter the ground but you will go with your own,” Marvin said.
While OFWs like him have gotten used to this kind of situation, Marvin said this war is so far the worst that he has ever witnessed in nearly 20 years of living in Israel, as Hamas is now taking hostages, open-firing on non-Israelis.
“So far madam ay 18 years nga ako rito naranasan ko na lahat ng giyera halos, last 2021, 2015, this is the worst na experience namin kasi nagiba sila ng tactics kumbaga pinagplanuhan…pano mapapasok sa Israel.”
“Ang Hamas naman ay, sa tingin namin ay strike every nationality sila ngayon. Hindi lang sa mga Jewish.”
“This time dahil may mga hostage, they don’t know …yung mga hostage pwede ma-scattered sa,” Marvin added.
Marvin has been helping OFWs, especially in times of conflict.
Now, they have to be careful and must wait for a ceasefire on both sides first before joining rescue operations.
“Kaya gustuhin man namin makapasok, kanina kausap ko nga yung embahada ay sabi ko nga, if ever magkaroon ng ceasefire kahit na we open hours lang na window period na 2 hrs anytime kontakin ako kasi from here to there is 1 and a half hours, from telaviv sa embassy ay 2 hrs, so sabi ko kung maglalaunch sila ng window period na ganon na irescue yung mga civilian mga foreigners na kagaya namin, willing akong tumulong kasi may sasakyan tayo, pwede naming gamitin. Sasama ako na magrerescue sa mga kababayan nating naipit.”
“But like I said, na kung papayagan kami ng army but on the other side, hindi sila papayag, very dangerous,” he added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is still verifying the reported abduction of Filipino workers allegedly by Hamas after the militants launched a massive surprise attack on land, air, and sea.
The Israeli military is currently fighting to drive away the militants while securing its borders.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Sunday instructed the Philippine government to closely coordinate with the embassy in Tel-Aviv and the migrant workers office in Israel to help Filipinos who are affected by the war and help repatriate those who want to go home.
Meanwhile, for families of OFWs, especially those who have gotten used to such situations, Marvin said that various OFW groups will do everything they can to assure the safety of fellow Filipinos.
“Sa mga kababayan po natin, lalo na yung mga pamilya ng G2G, ‘yung mag applikante,…kami po na nandito, pangkaraniwan na ito sa amin,” Marvin said.
