DFA urged to evacuate Pinoys in LebanonMANILA, Philippines — Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Marlowe Miranda is urging the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to impose Alert Level 4 or a mandatory evacuation amid ongoing bombing strikes by Israeli jets on Beirut, which are endangering the lives of around 15,000 Filipino domestic helpers and their dependents. In a recent interview on ABS-CBN, Miranda said the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in parts of Lebanon – especially in Southern Lebanon where millions of Lebanese have fled to Beirut – is alarming, as Israel has occupied parts of Lebanon to demolish Hezbollah strongholds, which resulted in more than 2,000 deaths and thousands more injured. Miranda is recommending Alert Level 4 for the DFA and Department of Migrant Workers to start repatriating Filipinos while airport and land routes to Syria are still open. Meanwhile, the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul said a third batch of 10 Filipino repatriates departed Istanbul on April 7 on their way back to Manila via Bangkok. — Pia Lee-Brago

Source: Philippine Star April 12, 2026 16:32 UTC