342 Filipinos arrive on 8th repatriation flight

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government yesterday facilitated the arrival of 342 Filipinos from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, marking the eighth chartered repatriation flight for returning nationals.

Of the total number, 203 are overseas Filipino workers, accompanied by 119 dependents and relatives, while 20 are other Filipino nationals.

The repatriation was carried out through the coordinated efforts of the Department of Migrant Workers, particularly the Migrant Workers Office in Abu Dhabi, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Philippine embassy.

‘Abandonment’

Meanwhile, House deputy minority leader and Act Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio marked the Araw ng Kagitingan commemoration by urging Filipinos to remember April 9, 1942 not only as a story of heroism, but as a hard lesson on surrender and imperial abandonment – especially as the Marcos administration expands joint war drills with the United States in Luzon.

“This day should remind us that April 9 marks surrender and abandonment – proof that an imperial power will always sacrifice a colony when its own priorities shift,” Tinio said in a statement.

He noted that while the sacrifice of Filipino soldiers and civilians must be honored, the day should also “unmask the myth” that the US alliance is synonymous with protection.

Tinio said the lesson of Bataan echoes in today’s headlines, pointing to the recent US-Israel war against Iran and the ceasefire that took effect on April 8 after weeks of “shock and awe,” mass displacement and economic disruption – including oil price spikes that have rippled worldwide.

“In the Middle East, we saw again how the US treats ‘frontline states’ and host countries as expendable. When retaliation comes, Washington prioritizes its own interests and leaves others to absorb the consequences,” Tinio said.

Against this backdrop, Tinio warned that the Philippines is being pulled deeper into US strategic operations through the largest-ever Salaknib exercises and the ongoing Cope Thunder air drills.

“Marcos is gambling with our people’s lives by turning the Philippines into a US forward base. If war erupts, we will not be protected. We will be used,” Tinio said.

He called for a clear shift toward an independent foreign policy that prioritizes the Filipino people’s safety and economic needs, not foreign military agendas. — Jose Rodel Clapano