The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Wednesday suspended overseas voter registration in Israel and Iran amid the ongoing conflict in the region.
In an advisory, the poll body said the suspension in Israel was based on Israeli government policies halting consular services of foreign posts—including the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv—until March 7, 2026. This includes voter registration for overseas Filipinos in the country.
Meanwhile, voter registration in Iran has been suspended “until further notice” following advice from the Philippine Embassy in Tehran.
COMELEC clarified that consular services and voter registration in other Middle East countries remain available.
“The Commission on Elections once again strongly advises our fellow Filipinos in the Middle East to remain vigilant and stay informed about the situation in their respective regions,” the poll body said.
“Be cautious of false or misleading information and rely only on credible sources.”
The overseas voter registration period began on December 1, 2025 and will run until September 30, 2027 as part of preparations for the 2028 national elections.
Government data show there are around 2.5 million Filipinos working and residing in the Middle East. Of this number, at least 1,400 have signified their intention to return to the Philippines following a series of air strikes reported in the region since February 28.
The Department of Migrant Workers clarified that there is no mass repatriation yet but assured the public that the government is prepared to extend assistance to affected overseas Filipino workers should the situation worsen.