Malacañang stressed that President Marcos remains guided by the rule of law and international law amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, even as his immediate priority is the safety of Filipinos in the region.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said this following the death of a Filipina in Israel on March 1.

In a press briefing on Monday, March 2, Castro, asked how the President views the recent airstrikes by Israel and the United States against Iran, said the President is currently focused on the welfare of overseas Filipinos.

“Ang Pangulo naman ay laging sa rule of law, laging pagtupad at pagpapa-enforce ng international law. So in general, ganoon po ang pananaw ng Pangulo (The President is always for the rule of law, always for compliance with and enforcement of international law. So in general, that is the President’s view),” she said.

“Sa ngayon po ang inuuna ng Pangulo ay ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan (For now, the President’s priority is the condition of our fellow Filipinos),” she added.

On whether Marcos would call for a ceasefire or take a more explicit stance on deescalation, Castro said there is no official statement yet.

“Wala pa po sa ating naibibigay na anumang detalye patungkol po diyan. Hintayin na lamang po natin kung magkakaroon man, at malamang ang magpapahayag po nito ay ang DFA (We have not yet provided any details on that. Let us just wait if there will be any, and most likely it will be the Department of Foreign Affairs that will issue it),” she said.

Castro said President Marcos has been closely monitoring developments since the outbreak of hostilities over the weekend.

“Sa unang putok pa lang ng gulo, malinaw na ang utos ng Pangulo nitong Feb. 28 – ibigay ang lahat ng tulong ng pamahalaan sa ating mga kababayan na naiipit sa nangyayaring kaguluhan sa Middle East (From the first outbreak of violence, the President’s order on February 28 was clear – provide all government assistance to our fellow Filipinos caught in the conflict in the Middle East),” she said.

She added that Marcos has directed concerned agencies to continue and intensify monitoring of Filipinos in affected areas.

“Kahapon, March 1, ay nagbigay muli ng mensahe ang Pangulo at inulit ang utos sa DFA, DMW at iba pang ahensiya na i-monitor ang sitwasyon at siguruhin na makakarating ang tulong ng pamahalaan para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan (Yesterday, March 1, the President again issued a message and reiterated his order to the DFA, and the Department of Migrant Workers and other agencies to monitor the situation and ensure that government assistance reaches our fellow Filipinos for their safety),” Castro said.

According to the Palace Press Officer, government agencies remain ready for possible repatriation once the airspace in the Middle East reopens.

Filipinos in need of assistance may contact Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) emergency hotline numbers, she added.

“Pangulo na nagmamahal, Pangulo na nagtatrabaho. Para sa ating mga kababayan sa ibang bansa, makakaasa kayo sa mas ramdam na pagdamay ng pamahalaan nasaan man kayong panig ng mundo (A President who loves, a President who works. To our fellow Filipinos abroad, you can count on the government’s deeper solidarity wherever you may be in the world),” Castro said.

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto called an emergency meeting with senior officials from the DFA, DMW, OWWA, and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) to ensure the lives and livelihoods of Filipinos abroad.

Recto ordered the DMW and OWWA to stay ahead of this crisis and to ensure that Filipinos in affected areas receive real, immediate support and that their families back home are not left without help.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac laid out contingency plans ready to deploy the moment conditions worsen, stressing that the protection and assistance for OFWs will not wait for the crisis to deepen.

DFA Undersecretary Ezzedin Tago confirmed that every diplomatic and communication channel with Israel, Iran, and other partner countries is open and active.

For his part, DepDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan made it clear that the government is looking beyond the immediate danger and stressed that swift, coordinated action can contain the damage.