The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is more than ready to extend assistance to Filipino citizens abroad who might be affected by global tensions.

In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military has a contingency plan to help these Filipinos should the situation require their evacuation.

He said this operation is called “non-combatant evacuation operations” (NEO) and the military has been doing this for a long time.

“Nung nagkaroon ng problema po sa Middle East, ay nagpadala tayo ng dalawang barko na sunduin ‘yung mga Pilipino na gustong umuwi po sa ating bansa (When problems broke out in the Middle East, we deployed two ships to ferry home the Filipino workers who wanted to return to the Philippines),” Brawner said.

If ever the AFP is ordered to perform such mission again, Brawner said their C-130 transport aircraft and naval vessels are on standby and ready for utilization.

During the height of the conflict between Israel and Iran last month, the Philippine Air Force expressed readiness to deploy its transport aircraft to the Middle East should the government call for a full repatriation of Filipino citizens. (PNA)