President Marcos on Sunday night, March 1, confirmed the death of a Filipina in Israel amid the ongoing exchanges of attacks in the Middle East, marking the first reported Filipino casualty since the conflict escalated.

In a video message uploaded to his social media accounts, the President said the government received a report that Mary Anne Velasquez de Vera, a caregiver from Pangasinan, was killed during the hostilities.

“Ikinalulungkot ko na meron po tayong natanggap na report na meron na pong casualty na Pilipino dito po sa giyera na nangyayari po sa Middle East (It is with sadness that we received a report that there is already a Filipino casualty in the war happening in the Middle East),” he said.

Marcos said De Vera was assisting her elderly ward to reach a bomb shelter when the attack occurred.

“Siya po ay isang caregiver sa Israel na tinutulungan ang kanyang alaga para dalhin sa bomb shelter, ngunit hindi na po nakaabot sa bomb shelter at inabutan na sila bago sila nakarating (She was a caregiver in Israel who was helping her ward to reach a bomb shelter, but they were not able to make it and were caught before they arrived),” he said.

“Siya ay namatay dahil tinamaan ng shrapnel ng mga bumagsak na bomba (She died after being hit by shrapnel from falling bombs),” he added.

De Vera has been identified by her husband, who is also an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Israel.

Marcos assured that the Philippine government will extend all necessary assistance to the De Vera family.

“Lahat po ng tulong na kakailanganin ng kanilang pamilya ay ihahatid ng ating pamahalaan (All the assistance that her family will need will be provided by our government),” he said.

The President said authorities will continue monitoring the situation of Filipinos in the region as the conflict persists.

“Patuloy po ang ating pag-monitor sa kalagayan ng ating kababayan na nasa gitna nitong gera dahil patuloy pa rin sa Middle East (We will continue to monitor the condition of our countrymen who are in the middle of this war as the situation in the Middle East continues),” he said.

Marcos assured the public that he will provide updates as soon as new information becomes available, reiterating the government’s commitment to safeguarding Filipinos abroad.