Escalating military exchanges across the Middle East have prompted Vice President Sara Duterte to call on Filipinos in the region to take active precautions and stay in close contact with Philippine embassies as fighting intensifies.
The advisory, shared through a video posted to her official Facebook account Sunday, came after the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes against Iran on Saturday — strikes that drew retaliatory drone and missile attacks from Tehran directed at Israel and American military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Duterte urged both residents and travelers to treat the deteriorating security environment as a live threat requiring immediate personal planning. “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,” she said.
She also directed those facing worsening conditions to be ready to change course without delay and to turn to Philippine diplomatic posts for guidance. “Kung lalo pang lumala ang sitwasyon sa seguridad, maging handa na baguhin ang inyong mga plano anumang oras kung kinakailangan. Gayundin kung kinakailangan ay lumapit sa ating mga embassy upang mabigyan ng tamang payo sa pinakaligtas na paraan sa pag-uwi ng Pilipinas,” she added.
The Gulf states targeted in Iran’s counterstrikes — Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar — host large concentrations of overseas Filipino workers, as well as major international airports now facing severe operational disruption. Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest transit hubs and a critical connection point for Filipinos flying to and from the Middle East, had roughly 70 percent of its scheduled flights canceled as airspace closures swept across the region.
