Marcos urged to name new DMW chief as Israel intensifies attacks vs Gaza

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should immediately fill the vacancy left behind by the late Department of Migrant Workers chief Susan Ople in light of the escalating conflict in Israel and Palestine, a ranking House member said Friday.

In a statement welcoming the president’s fresh appointment of Francisco Laurel Jr. as agriculture secretary, House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” C. Libanan (4Ps Partylist) called attention to the current absence of a DMW secretary.

 “We would also urge the president to name a new migrant workers secretary right away, considering that the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas might escalate and put more Filipino workers in harm’s way,” Libanan said.

The DMW, together with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), should be ready to put contingency plans into action, the lawmaker added.

Marcos on Friday announced that he is stepping down as Department of Agriculture chief after almost two years of holding the position, finally appointing a full-time official to head the agriculture department.

Marcos said that his choice for agriculture chief is someone who has a "fair understanding" of "what needs to be done."

DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac took over as officer-in-charge of the DMW after former DMW Secretary Susan Ople passed away on August 22. 

The DMW is the government agency tasked with dealing with all matters related to the protection of the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers. 

Tensions between Israel and Palestine came to a head when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, killing an estimated 800 Israelis. The DFA has reported that four Filipinos have been killed in the conflict, while two others are believed to have been taken hostage.

Hamas’ attack on Israel follows decades of protracted military assaults launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip, which is part of Palestine. The Gaza Strip has been under land, air and naval blockade by Israel since June 2007.

The Gaza Health Ministry said that at least 9,061 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities count over 1,400 killed.  

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