President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday night confirmed the first reported Filipino casualty in the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
In a video message, Marcos identified the victim as Mary Anne Velazquez de Vera, a caregiver from Pangasinan who was working in Israel.
According to reports received by the Philippine government, de Vera was assisting her ward to a bomb shelter when they were caught in the attack before reaching safety.
The President said the victim was identified by her husband, also an overseas Filipino worker in Israel.
“Lahat po ng tulong na kakailanganin ng kanilang pamilya ay ihahatid ng ating pamahalaan,” Marcos assured.
Authorities continue to closely monitor the situation of Filipinos in the region as hostilities persist. Philippine embassies and labor offices across the Middle East remain on heightened alert to ensure the safety of overseas Filipino workers.
Tensions intensified after the United States and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran.
US President Donald Trump said the strikes were meant to degrade Tehran’s military capabilities and neutralize what Washington described as a nuclear threat.
In retaliation, Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel and reportedly struck US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, further destabilizing a region that hosts millions of overseas Filipino workers.