MANILA – Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday assured the public that no Filipino casualties have been reported so far following escalating hostilities involving Israel, the United States, and Iran.
In a video message, Marcos said that as of 9 a.m. Sunday, there were no confirmed reports of any Filipino killed or injured amid the ongoing conflict. He emphasized that the government has been closely monitoring developments in the Middle East since news broke of airstrikes launched by Israel and the United States against Iran.
The President said Philippine embassies and labor offices across the region began monitoring the situation as early as Saturday afternoon. Embassy officials and labor attachés were immediately directed to coordinate with Filipino communities to ensure their safety and provide timely updates.
Marcos noted that Filipinos in affected areas have taken precautionary measures, including moving to safer locations such as bomb shelters and distancing themselves from potential military targets like American bases.
The conflict intensified after the United States and Israel conducted military strikes against Iran. US President Donald Trump said the operation aimed to weaken Tehran’s military capability and neutralize what Washington described as a nuclear threat. Iran later retaliated by launching drones and missiles toward Israel and targeting US military facilities in parts of the Middle East.
Marcos acknowledged that the situation remains fluid and may continue to escalate, stressing that the Philippine government will maintain constant coordination with its foreign posts.
With millions of overseas Filipino workers deployed across the Middle East, the government remains on high alert to safeguard their welfare and ensure immediate response should conditions worsen.| With reportds from PNA
