Thank you to Bea and Rappler team for organizing the AMA! Thank you as well to VAdm Trinidad for being open to our questions!

Thanks @Jan @jansantos54 @Carlos Nazareno @Kuro @Regine C. for your questions :) Who should we bring in for an AMA next? (Si Lawrence** at Danny** na pala mismo next time, noh?)

Update on overseas Filipinos affected by war conflicts in Middle East

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) share the latest numbers regarding assisted overseas Filipinos in the Middle East during a House joint committee briefing on their situation on Wednesday, March 11.

DFA Migration Affairs Secretary Ezzedin Tago reported that they have received 327 repatriation requests from non-Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), mostly coming from Dubai, with 199 requests.  Meanwhile, over 180 have already been repatriated or assisted.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that 679 OFWs and their dependents have been assisted as of March 10, while 380 are ready for repatriation.

885 stranded OFWs ready for pre-departure in the Philippines and 526 stranded in transit hubs were also assisted, the DMW added. @here

ASEAN Foreign Ministers meet, call on 'immediate cessation of hostilities' in Middle East @here

According to ASEAN's readout of the virtual meeting, ministers "emphasised the importance of an immediate cessation of hostilities and called on all parties concerned to exercise utmost self-restraint, avoid any acts that may further aggravate the situation, and resolve differences through diplomacy and dialogue in the interest of maintaining peace and stability in the region."

"The Meeting reaffirmed the obligation of all States to resolve their differences through peaceful means and to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, in line with international law, including the UN Charter. The Meeting further reiterated the obligations to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures in armed conflicts consistent with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions."