KIKO TO PHIL GOVT:
SUPPORT CALLS FOR LEBANON CEASEFIRE

Senate Majority Leader Kiko Pangilinan today called on Malacañang to join appeals for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon to protect some 30, 000 Filipinos, mostly overseas workers, still left in the war zone.

With Israels continued rejection of a ceasefire, I call on our government to step up its efforts and join calls for the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, especially with thousands of our OFWs still caught in the crossfire. There should be firm, consolidated pressure from nations to help stop the aggression, and the Philippines, being one of the countries that send the most number of workers in the Middle East, should be in the forefront of action, Kiko said.

It is also crucial for the government to systematize its actions in helping Filipinos who have been repatriated. We need to ensure that they are fully assisted and that they can start anew now that they are back in the country. These workers lost their jobs due to circumstances beyond their control. If there were enough job opportunities here in the country in the first place, these Filipinos would not be in the position they are in now. For this reason, our government has the obligation to do everything in its power to ease up the condition of our repatriated Filipinos, Kiko ended.