MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered the immediate activation of contingency measures to safeguard Filipinos in the Middle East, as escalating military strikes involving Iran, the United States, and Israel threaten to spill across the region.
Marcos directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to urgently account for Filipinos in potentially affected areas and implement safety protocols amid reports of expanding air and missile attacks.
“In the meantime, the safety of Filipino citizens in Iran and in the Middle East is paramount,” Marcos said. “I have instructed the DFA and the DMW to take measures to determine their whereabouts in affected areas and to take immediate measures to ensure their safety.”
The directive came as international reports confirmed coordinated air operations hitting multiple sites in Iran, including areas in Tehran, with retaliatory missile launches reportedly targeting a US military installation in Bahrain. Additional aerial threats were monitored over Qatar and other Gulf states, while explosions were reported in parts of the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia — signaling a widening conflict zone across the Gulf region.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said Philippine diplomatic posts in Tehran and Tel Aviv have heightened their alert levels and are ready to extend assistance to affected Filipinos.
Embassies in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — home to large Filipino communities — have likewise been placed on standby to respond swiftly should the situation deteriorate further.
“The President is deeply concerned for the safety of Filipinos in Iran, Israel and all the countries in the region,” the DFA said in a statement. “We continue to advise Filipinos to stay in their homes or safe places and refrain from going out to public places at this time.”
The DFA also called on all parties involved to pursue peaceful engagement to prevent further escalation of hostilities.
Initial assessments from Philippine authorities indicated that no Filipinos have so far been reported injured or directly affected by the recent wave of strikes. However, officials emphasized that monitoring operations remain ongoing as the volatile situation continues to unfold.
The government assured that it stands ready to provide assistance, including possible evacuation measures if necessary, as tensions across the Middle East intensify./PN
