3 Eastern Visayas mayors among Filipinos stranded in Israel

The mayors left for Israel to take part in a study tour on urban agriculture funded by the Israeli government

TACLOBAN, Philippines – Three mayors from Eastern Visayas are among the Filipinos stranded in Israel as hostilities escalate between Israel and Iran, raising concerns among their families and government officials back home.

Among them is Lawaan, Eastern Samar Mayor Athene Mendros, wife of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Eastern Visayas director Nick Mendros, who said he was anxiously awaiting her safe return.

He said his wife is with Barugo, Leyte Mayor Aron Balais and Hindang, Leyte Mayor Betty Cabal. The group is in a hotel in Shefayim, north of Tel Aviv, which has a bunker in case of emergency. 

The group left for Israel to take part in a study tour on urban agriculture funded by the Israeli government as part of a food security program, he added. 

Arnel Agabe, director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Eastern Visayas, confirmed that the mayors were with a delegation that included representatives from several regions and two DILG regional directors from Regions VI and I.

“We are praying na maka-uli na hira (that they will return) safe and sound,” Director Mendros told Rappler via text message. 

He said he last spoke to his wife on Tuesday night, June 17, and was assured that she and her companions were safe and being assisted by both the Israeli and Philippine governments.

Their exit plan includes traveling by bus to Jordan and flying out to Dubai before returning to the Philippines, according to Director Mendros.

Agabe said the Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, is coordinating with Israeli authorities to ensure the safe return of the stranded delegation and other Filipinos.

Iran and Israel launched new missile strikes at each other on Wednesday as the air war between the two longtime enemies entered the sixth day, Reuters reported. – Rappler.com