Manila, June 25 -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the voluntary repatriation phase or Alert Level 3 in Israel will remain in place, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said Wednesday.

De Vega said the DFA would wait for the official recommendation of the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv on whether to retain or downgrade the alert level as activities in Israel slowly return to normal after the ceasefire with Iran.

"Still Alert Level 3. We shall await (the) recommendations of Ambassador (Aileen Mendiola)," he told the Philippine News Agency in a text message.

Israel has officially ended its state of emergency after declaring a "historic victory" in its 12-day military action against Iran.

The Israel Defense F...