Pinay caregiver in Israel killed in airstrike

philstar.com · Mar 1, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Alexis Romero - The Philippine StarMarch 2, 2026 | 12:00am An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Bahrain captured the intensity of the ongoing missile attacks in a video taken Sunday morning amid the joint military strike by the United States and Israel against Iran, with audible explosions and smoke visible rising into the sky.Video courtesy of Shelamarie Tuquib) | via Aldo Banaynal / / The Freeman MANILA, Philippines — A Filipina caregiver was killed in an airstrike in Israel, President Marcos said yesterday, as the world braces for the effects – including a possible prolonged conflict – of the attacks launched by American and Israeli forces against Iran. Marcos identified the fatality as Mary Anne Velazquez de Vera, of Basista, Pangasinan. She died from shrapnel wounds. “I regret to inform you that we have received a report that a Filipino casualty has been recorded in the conflict happening in the Middle East,” Marcos said in a video statement. The 32-year-old Filipina was helping her ward proceed to a bomb shelter when the airstrike happened. De Vera was identified by her husband, an overseas Filipino worker employed in Israel. “The government will provide all forms of assistance needed by her family. We continue to monitor the condition of our countrymen who are in the middle of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” the President said. Marcos said the Philippine government has been checking on its embassies and labor attachés in the Middle East since the conflict started. There are about 4,000 to 6,000 Filipinos working in US bases in the Middle East, located in Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Vice President Sara Duterte said Filipinos living in or visiting Middle East countries should avoid areas where there are ongoing military operations and large gatherings of people. Vigilance, prayers Sen. Bong Go urged vigilance among OFWs, stressing that safety should be the number one priority. “I am appealing to all OFWs: Remain observant and always coordinate with our embassies and consulates for security measures and important announcements. Your safety is our priority – keep safe always,” he said. “Let us not allow greedy people to use this crisis as a means to further bring hardships to our countrymen,” he said. Since Saturday, at least 23 international flights to the Middle East have been canceled and at least three more were diverted. The Department of Migrant Workers has advised Filipinos working in Israel to follow announcement made by the Philippine embassy and the IDF Home Front concerning the security situation in the Gulf region. Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula has directed all priests in the Archdiocese of Manila to include prayers for peace in the Middle East and the world in their daily mass intentions. Justifying the military action, US President Donald Trump said Iran, which he claimed was being ruled by a “very wicked, radical dictatorship,” was trying to rebuild its nuclear program to continue developing long-range missiles that threaten Americans and their allies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the offensives were intended to “strike hard at the terror regime” and create conditions that would allow the Iranians to “cast off the yoke” of a “murderous regime.” — Evelyn Macairan, Rudy Santos, Delon Porcalla, Elijah Felice Rosales, Rhodina Villanueva