PHILIPPINES (March 1, 2026) – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has confirmed that Filipinos residing in the Middle East have been successfully relocated to safe areas, with many now staying in designated bomb shelters. This precautionary measure comes in response to recent airstrikes involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
In a video message released by Malacañang on Sunday, President Marcos addressed the concerns of families back home, assuring the public that the Philippine government is monitoring the situation around the clock.
Full statement below:
Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Sa palagay ko po ay nabalitaan nyo na po na binomba ng Israel atsaka ng America ang Iran. At ang Iran naman ay sumagot at binomba naman ang mga American base sa United Arab Emirates, sa Bahrain, sa Oman, at syempre sa Israel.
Alam naman natin na napakarami ang mga Pilipino dyan sa bandang Middle East. I’m sure nag-aalala kayo sa inyong mga kakilala, mga kaibigan, at mga kaanak na nandun.
Mula nang nabalitaan naming na nagsisimula itong gyera, ay nagmomonitor na kami kahapon pa (late afternoon) sa ating mga embassy, sa ating mga labor attache, sa lahat ng embassy natin doon sa Middle East.
At 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. Wala pong Pilipino ang namatay, wala pong Pilipino ang nasaktan.
At sa ngayon ay patuloy ang aming pag-monitor para tiyakin na nasa magandang kalagayan ang ating mga kababayan sa Middle East. Ating tuloy-tuloy na binabantayan dahil kelangan nating tuloy-tuloy na bantayan dahil hindi ito tapos pa. Palagay ko, patuloy pa itong gyera na ito.
Ngunit sa aming latest report, ang ating mga kababayan ay nasa safe na lugar at sila’y nakapunta sa mga bomb shelter kung saan sila. At lumalayo sila doon sa mga bases ng Amerikano upang hindi naman sila mapalapit sa alanganin.
Patuloy po ang pagrereport natin habang dumadating ang report sa akin. Magandang umaga po.
– PBBM
Translation:
Good morning to you all. I believe you have already heard the news that Israel and America bombed Iran. In response, Iran bombed the American bases in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, and of course, in Israel.
We all know that there are very many Filipinos in the Middle East. I’m sure you are worried about your acquaintances, friends, and relatives who are there.
Since we heard that this war was starting, we have been monitoring since yesterday afternoon through our embassies, our labor attachés, and all our embassies there in the Middle East.
And I want to report to our fellow countrymen that as of now, 9 a.m. Sunday, we have not received any reports of Filipino casualties. No Filipino has died, no Filipino has been hurt.
As of now, our monitoring continues to ensure that our countrymen in the Middle East are in good condition.
We are continuously monitoring the situation because it is not over yet. I think this war will continue.
But according to our latest report, our countrymen are in safe locations and have gone to bomb shelters where they are. And they are staying away from American bases so as not to be in harm’s way.
We will continue to report as the reports come to me. Good morning.
Immediate Safety Measures Implemented
The President reported that as of Sunday morning, there have been no casualties or injuries among Filipinos in the affected regions. He emphasized that the safety of Filipino nationals is the administration’s top priority.
“In our latest report, our countrymen are in a safe place,” Marcos said. “They have gone to the bomb shelters where they are. They were moved away from the American bases so that they do not come close to danger.”
The relocation efforts were triggered following reports of an exchange of airstrikes. The President noted that the conflict involved aerial bombings between Israel, the United States, and Iran, with specific mentions of American bases in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman being targeted in response to earlier strikes.
Government on High Alert
To ensure the continued safety and welfare of the more than two million Filipinos estimated to be in the region, the President has placed all Philippine embassies and labor attachés on heightened alert. This directive, effective since late Saturday afternoon, mandates diplomatic posts to maintain constant communication with Filipino communities and provide immediate assistance if necessary.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) have been specifically directed to secure Filipinos, the majority of whom are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) stationed in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Israel, and Bahrain.
Continued Monitoring
President Marcos assured the nation that the government will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. He urged the public to remain calm and rely on official government channels for accurate news regarding the status of their loved ones abroad.
“We will continue to give updates as the report reaches me,” the President stated, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to transparency during this critical period.