MANILA, Philippines — A visibly irate Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Friday faced protesters gathered in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) office in Pasay City.

Locsin can be heard confronting  the protesters of the government’s repatriation efforts in the Middle East following the conflict between the United States in Iran.

“Kahit na parang wala nang giyera, ‘no? Pero in spite of that there will be a massive repatriation efforts to bring our people back home,” Locsin said.

Locsin said  that the government, through taxpayers’ money, will even shoulder the penalties and outstanding debts of the affected OFWs.

“[Through] the taxes that you pay, the Filipino people pay, we will bring our people back. Because this is where they belong. Kung gusto nila, okay?”

The protesters were calling on the government to save the lives of OFWs and also blaming the US for the tensions in the Middle East.

The rallyists included members of families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and members of pro-OFW group Migrante. (Stacy Ang/JGo/CurrentPH.com)