Camille Naredo

A plume of smoke rises from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike in Dubai on March 1, 2026. Fadel Sana, AFP

A plume of smoke rises from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike in Dubai on March 1, 2026. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader since 1989 and sworn enemy of the West, was killed in the opening salvo of a massive US and Israeli attack, sparking a new wave of retaliatory missile strikes from Tehran on March 1. (Photo by Fadel SENNA / AFP)

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CONFLICT

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772353958034AFP__20260301__99EJ2HG__v2__MidRes__TopshotUaeIranIsraelUsConflict.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A plume of smoke rises from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike in Dubai on March 1, 2026. Fadel Sana, AFP" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A plume of smoke rises from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike in Dubai on March 1, 2026. <em>Fadel Sana, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(2nd UPDATED)</strong> — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday assured the public that government is monitoring the welfare of Filipinos in the Middle East amid airstrikes from Iran in response to attacks by the US and Israel.</p><p>In a video message, the president also said he does not expect the airstrikes and the tension in the region to subside soon.</p><p>&quot;Nais kong i-report sa ating mga kababayan na sa ngayon, as of 9 a.m. Sunday, wala po tayong natatanggap na report na may casualty na Pilipino,&quot; he said.</p><p>(I wish to report that as of 9 a.m. on Sunday, we have not received any reports of Filipino casualties)</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/1/dmw-no-filipino-casualties-reported-in-middle-east-airstrikes-0808">DMW: No Filipino casualties reported in Middle East airstrikes</a></div><p>&quot;Wala pong Pilipino ang namatay, wala na Pilipino nang nasaktan. At sa ngayon ay patuloy ang aming pag-monitor para tiyakin na nasa magandang kalagayan ang ating mga kababayan sa Middle East.&quot;</p><p>(No Filipinos were killed or injured. And, as of now, we are continuing our monitoring to ensure that Filipinos in the Middle East are safe)</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1406118181055466%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=267&amp;t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>According to Department of Foreign Affairs data, there are more than 2.4 million Filipinos across the Middle East.</p><p>Marcos Jr. added that, according to government monitoring, Filipinos in countries in the Middle East that Iran launched airstrikes at are safe.</p><p>&quot;Sila ay nakapunta sa mga bomb shelter kung saan sila. At lumalayo sila doon sa mga bases ng Amerikano upang hindi naman sila mapalapit sa alanganin,&quot; he said.</p><p>(They were able to reach bomb shelters in the countries they are in. And they have kept a distance from US bases to stay out of harm&#x27;s way)</p><p>“Ating tuloy-tuloy na binabantayan dahil ito&#x27;y kailangan natin tuloy-tuloy na bantayan at hindi ito tapos pa. Palagay ko patuloy pa itong gerang ito,&quot; he said.</p><p>(We will continue monitoring this because we need to and this is not over. In my assessment, this war will continue.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>VP DUTERTE TELLS PINOSY TO TAKE PRECAUTION</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte advised Filipinos in the Middle East to take precaution amid the on-going conflict.</p><p>&quot;Dahil sa kamakailang paglala ng tensyon at labanan sa ilang bahagi ng Gitnang Silangan, hinihikayat ang lahat ng Filipino na kasalukuyang naninirahan o naglalakbay sa rehiyong ito na manigurado sa pag-iingat at pagsagawa ng mga kinakailangang hakbang upang mapangalagaan ang inyong kaligtasan,&quot; she said in a video message Sunday, March 1</p><p>&quot;Iwasan ang mga lugar na may nagaganap na operasyong militar o malaking pagtitipon ng publiko,&quot; she added.</p><p>Duterte also advised Filipinos in the Middle East to monitor official announcements from local authorities and get news updates from trusted news organizations.</p><p>&quot;Panatilihin ang regular na komunikasyon sa inyong pamilya, mga mahal sa buhay, at mga pinagkakatiwalaang kaibigan tungkol sa inyong kinaroroonan at kalagayan,&quot; she stated.</p><p>&quot;Paniguraduhin na hawak ninyo ang emergency numbers ng ating Department of Foreign Affairs at lokal na awtoridad ng inyong bansa,&quot; Duterte added.</p><p>The second-in-command also urged Filipinos to secure valid documents and passports and be ready should tensions worsen.</p><p>&quot;Kung lalo pang lumala ang sitwasyon sa seguridad, maging handa na baguhin ang inyong mga plano anumang oras kung kinakailangan,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Gayundin kung kinakailangan ay lumapit sa ating mga embassy upang mabigyan ng tamang payo sa pinakaligtas na paraan sa pag-uwi ng Pilipinas,&quot; Duterte noted.</p><p>&quot;Sa panahong ito ng walang katiyakan, ang inyong kaligtasan ang pinakamahalaga. Nawa’y patnubayan at ingatan kayong lahat ng Maykapal, at ipagdasal natin ang kapayapaan, pagkakaisa, at kaligtasan ng lahat ng tao sa Middle East,&quot; the vice president said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NO CREDIBLE DIRECT THREAT TO PH&#x27;</strong></div><p>In a statement later Sunday, the Department of National Defense said it is monitoring the situation in the Middle East in coordination with the DFA and the Department of Migrant Workers.</p><p>&quot;The Armed Forces of the Philippines stands ready to assist in humanitarian and evacuation operations, if directed,&quot; it also said.</p><p>DND said the conflict sparked by airstrikes by the US and by Israel does not pose &quot;a credible direct threat&quot; to the Philippines amid speculations on social media that AFP facilities that host US troops and equipment could be targets.</p><p>&quot;We urge vigilance against disinformation and condemn those who unnecessarily rouse panic during these circumstances,&quot; the department said. <strong>— with Harlene Delgado, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>"Nais kong i-report sa ating mga kababayan na sa ngayon, as of 9 a.m. Sunday, wala po tayong natatanggap na report na may casualty na Pilipino," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said.</p>

"Nais kong i-report sa ating mga kababayan na sa ngayon, as of 9 a.m. Sunday, wala po tayong natatanggap na report na may casualty na Pilipino," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said.

Marcos Jr.: PH monitoring Filipinos’ welfare amid Middle East airstrikes

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Marcos Jr.: PH monitoring Filipinos’ welfare amid Middle East airstrikes

ABS-CBN News

Published March 01, 2026 10:36 AM PHT

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Updated March 01, 2026 04:34 PM PHT

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Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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