Local residents evacuate following clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border in Oddar Meanchey province, December 8, 2025. Thailand launched air strikes on its neighbor Cambodia on December 8, 2025, the Thai army said, with both sides trading blame for the latest eruption of fighting on their disputed border which killed a Thai soldier. Agence Kampuchea Press/AFP
BANGKOK — At least 118 Filipinos have been evacuated from the Thailand-Cambodian border amid the ongoing clashes, according to Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Millicent Cruz-Paredes.
In a chance interview with Philippine Olympic Committee Media, Cruz-Paredes said most of the Filipinos evacuated are teachers working in Thailand.
She explained that the Filipinos evacuated are those in the most affected provinces.
“There are about, parang sa last count namin, 118 Filipinos na nasama sa pag-evacuate at ligtas naman sila,” Cruz-Paredes said.
According to the envoy, there are over 350 documented Filipinos staying in the seven provinces in the Thailand border, but only 118 were affected and needed evacuation.
The Philippine Embassy in Bangkok confirmed that all Filipinos in the area are safe, with no reports of missing or injured individuals.
“No Filipino is in trouble. Lahat ay ligtas, lahat ay accounted for,” Cruz added.
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Most of the evacuees are teachers whose schools in the border provinces have suspended classes due to the conflict.
Cruz-Paredes said they are extending financial assistance to the affected Filipinos, since the teachers are under a "no work, no pay" policy as classes are suspended due to the clashes.
“Financial assistance [binibigay namin] depende sa situation, depende sa circumstances. Mga teachers sila na nagtuturo doon sa area kung saan nangyayari ang armed clashes. Dahil may armed clashes doon, suspended lahat ng klase at sa kanila, no work, no pay,” the envoy said. Cruz-Paredes said Thai government has given assistance to the evacuated Filipinos.
The Philippine Embassy in Thailand said it is closely monitoring the situation of the evacuees.
“Marami din na pinagpuntahan na evacuation centers. May iba rin naman na nakitira na lang muna sa mga kamag-anak or kaibigan nila. So kalat-kalat. Pero na-mo-monitor namin, we are able to talk to them,” she said.
Based on latest embassy data, around 40,000 Filipinos are currently living and working in Thailand.
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