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Ni EstongReyes
MATINDING kinondena ng ilang senador ang pag-atake ng Hamas sa Israel na naghasik ng karahasan sa Gaza Strip kaya nalagay sa panganib ang maraming mamamayan kabilang ang mga Filipino lugar.
Sa magkakahiwalay na pahayag, sinabi nina Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva at Senador Grace Poe na dapat nang kumilos ang pamahalaan upang matiyak na ligtas an gating kababayan sa sigalot.
“We strongly condemn the violence committed by terrorists against innocent civilians in the ongoing conflict in Israel. We deplore the taking of hostages and seek their immediate release,” ayon kay Zubiri.
Aniya, hindi makakamit ang katarungan o kalayaan sa pamamagitan ng karahasan.
“We call upon the Department of Migrant Workers, the Department of Foreign Affairs and other Philippine government agencies to secure our overseas Filipinos and ensure safe passage if necessary. We urge the full utilization of the Assistance to Nationals Fund for this purpose,” ani pa ni Zubiri.
“I pray for all who are affected by this conflict- particularly the thousands of our Filipino brothers and sisters. May the LORD cover you all,” dagdag ng lider ng Senado.
Sa kanyang pananaw, sinabi ni Villanueva na walang lugar saan man bahagi ng mundo ang karahasan at walang paliwanag na maaaaring tanggapin sa di makataong pag-atake.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless attacks of Hamas on Israel. Violence has no place in this world and there is certainly no excuse that can justify these inhumane attacks. This kind of violence must end. We stand in solidarity and offer our prayers to the people of Israel during this challenging time,” aniya.
“We also call on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Philippine Embassy in Israel to provide any assistance possible, most especially to the Filipinos residing in the country,” giit ng senador.
Hiniling naman ni Poe sa pamahalaan na kumilos kaagad upang matiyak na ligtas ang lahat ng Filipino na maaaring maipit sa sigalot.
“The safety of Filipinos in conflict-stricken Israel is of primordial concern,” ayon kay Poe.
Ayon kay Poe, dapat tiyakin ng kinauukulang ahensiya ng pamahalaan na ligtas ang lahat ng ating kababayan partikular ang nakatira malapi sa battle zone at mailipat sila sa ligtas na tirahan o halfway houses.
“Repatriation should be calibrated for those who want to go home while the borders are still open,” ayon kay Poe.
Sinabi pa ni Poe na may standby funds ang OWWA para sa paglilikas ng OFWs na gustong umuwi at sana gamitin nang maayos ang pondo.
“As we hope for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, we have to act with dispatch so that no Filipinos will be included in the count of casualties,” ayon kay Poe.
