President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed hope for a ceasefire in the Middle East as the US-Israel attacks on Iran continue to escalate, stressing that the Philippines, while not a party to the conflict, seeks the safety of its roughly 2.5 million nationals in the region.
The conflict has claimed over 500 lives, including Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and Filipina caregiver Mary Anne Velazquez de Vera.
Marcos called on all parties to show restraint and bring the crisis to a swift end, while Philippine security officials assured that there is no verified threat to the country.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will meet on Friday to review contingency plans, including repatriation efforts and potential fuel subsidy measures due to disruptions in the Middle East oil supply.
Lawmakers also discussed exploring alternative oil sources from Indonesia and Malaysia to reduce dependence on the region, amid militant calls for Filipinos to oppose the US-Israel operations.
Source: PhilNews24 | March 4, 2026
