Senate President Francis Escudero has called on Philippine authorities to proactively locate and assist all Filipinos, including the undocumented, who may want to leave Israel and Iran due to escalating tensions between the two countries.

Escudero emphasized the importance of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) taking the lead in identifying Filipinos in conflict zones and implementing contingency plans for their safe return to the Philippines.

He stressed the need for the government to reach out to Filipinos in Israel and Iran, regardless of their legal status, to ensure their safety and facilitate their immediate repatriation.

Escudero highlighted the government's established protocols and funding mechanisms for repatriating Filipinos during global crises, emphasizing the importance of swift action to assist those in need.

He also urged the DMW to provide stress debriefing to repatriated Filipinos affected by the conflict and offer guidance on career options for those choosing to stay in the country.

According to the DFA's Rapid Response and Crisis Tracking system, there are approximately 30,742 Filipinos in Israel, 1,180 in Iran, and 1,598 in Iraq.

The recent conflict between Israel and Iran escalated after Israel launched strikes on Iran's nuclear and military facilities, prompting retaliatory actions from Iran.