MANILA, Philippines — Singapore has extended seats to other countries, including the Philippines, in the repatriation of Singaporeans stranded in the Middle East as a result of the United States-Israel war with Iran.
Singapore's Ambassador to Manila Constance See on Friday said at least 24 Filipinos were part of Singapore's repatriation flight from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
See said Singapore deployed a multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft on March 12 to "bring Singaporeans home safely from Jeddah."
"After prioritizing Singaporeans and their families, we were glad that available seats could be extended to nationals from other countries, including 24 Filipinos," See said in a statement.
The flight landed in Singapore on March 13 at 5:59 a.m., the ambassador said. Singapore's Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) said there were 81 Singaporeans and their dependents who returned via the MRTT.
After prioritizing and catering to Singaporeans who registered, available seats were also extended to nationals from Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, MINDEF said.
"This was very much a partnership. We worked in close coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, to facilitate the Filipinos who joined the flight," she said.
See said the Philippine government, through the DFA and its missions, has "been mounting complex repatriation efforts to bring Filipinos home safely."
"Our flight complements those efforts. This is really Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) solidarity in action, neighbors helping neighbors in difficult moments," she said.
"Our Asean neighbours have assisted Singaporeans in returning home in past crises," See said.
"Singapore and the Philippines are close friends, and we were very glad to help these Filipinos begin their journey home. At the end of the day, what matters most is that people return safely to their families,” See added.
