PH may consider repatriation flights if riots in Europe do not cease — Palace
This photograph shows a fire burning and destroying the city hall after a group of individuals forced entry into the building during ongoing protest action against the “high cost of living”, in Limoges, central France on October 17, 2026. Melaine Payzal, AFPMANILA — The Philippines may consider mounting repatriation flights from France, Italy and other European countries gripped by riots if the civil unrest continues, Malacañang said on Monday after protests across Europe resulted in arson and looting.
“Kahit anong kaguluhan, ang Pangulo ang unang pinoprotektahan ay ang mga OFW. Kung hindi magkakaroon ng kaayusan… maaring magparepatriate kung kinakailangan,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.
“‘Yan naman din po ang utos ng Pangulo kung kinakailangan at gusto ng ating mga kababayan na naiipit sa ganitong klaseng sitwasyon,” he said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said that no Filipinos were involved in or harmed by the ongoing protests in France and Italy.
The protests in France — which comes about half a year before their presidential elections — stemmed from the youth’s disgruntlement with their country’s public school system and a lack of funding for the education sector.
The series of uprisings in Italy was rooted in the public’s call against rising costs of living, low wages and budget cuts on education.
Malacañang said it has yet to know if these developments would affect the attendance of some European leaders in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila next month.