By Liezelle Soriano
The government of Egypt has vowed to prioritize Filipinos to move out of Gaza amid the raging Israel-Hamas war as soon as the Rafah border opens a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said Friday.
Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said that the Rafah border is the crossing near Egypt which is the safest way out for Filipinos trapped in Gaza.
“Kinausap ko ang ambassador ng Egypt kahapon at sinabi ng kanilang pamahalaan na bibigyan ng priority ang mga Pilipinong lulusot. Pangako niya ‘yan na bibigyan tayo ng priority sa border,” De Vega said in a radio interview.
De Vega said that he was unable to provide an exact schedule for the opening of the border at this time but that it may happen “within the next 24 hours” or “any day now.”
“Kung hindi man, well at least may positive news tayo na naguusap ang mga pamahalaan. Kasi kung hindi makalabas [ang foreign nationals], eh parang hindi successful ang diplomatic approach ng Presidente ng United States of America,” he added.
Earlier, the Philippines placed Gaza under alert level 4, making it mandatory for Filipinos to evacuate.
(ai/mnm)