TACLOBAN CITY – What was supposed to be a routine study tour turned into a life-threatening ordeal for Barugo, Leyte Mayor Aaron Balais and other Filipino officials, who found themselves trapped in Israel during the height of its missile conflict with Iran earlier this month.
Balais was among 17 Philippine mayors and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officials attending a study program on urban agriculture when hostilities escalated between Israel and Iran, triggering nightly missile strikes.
In an interview on June 26 during a mass oath-taking of Leyte officials in Palo, Balais recalled the fear and uncertainty they experienced while staying in a hotel in Shifayem, a coastal town known for its agricultural initiatives.
“We thought we wouldn’t make it home,” he said. “We were in a hotel bunker and could clearly hear the missiles during the attacks. It was a very terrifying experience.”
Balais said that during the most intense nights—typically around midnight—they sought shelter in bomb-proof rooms, lying on foam mattresses as explosions echoed nearby.
Despite the chaos, he expressed deep gratitude to the Israeli government for ensuring their safety.
“They deployed about 150 soldiers to guard our hotel and treated us like diplomats,” he said. “But honestly, I also feared that their presence might make us a target.”
Joining him on the trip were Mayor Athene Mendros of Lawaan, Eastern Samar, and Mayor Betty Cabal of Hindang, Leyte.
The group arrived in Israel on June 7, and the first missile strike occurred on June 13. They safely returned to the Philippines via Dubai on June 20.
Balais admitted that the conflict took them by surprise. “Of course, had the Israeli government known they would be attacked, they wouldn’t have invited us,” he said.
Half-joking, the mayor added that he would now check international headlines before accepting foreign invitations. “But at least, we were able to return home safely,” he said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA, ROEL T. AMAZONA)
