Caregiver first PH casualty; gov't all set for repatriation
A Filipino caregiver, Mary Ann Velazquez de Vera, has been identified as the first Philippine casualty in Israel due to the ongoing Iranian counterattacks. President Marcos confirmed the death, with the government readying repatriation efforts.
Mary Ann Velazquez de Vera, a 32-year-old Filipino caregiver from Basista, Pangasinan, became the first Philippine casualty in the Middle East conflict when she was killed by shrapnel during an Iranian missile strike on Tel Aviv on March 1, 2026. De Vera died while assisting her 102-year-old patient to reach a bomb shelter during the Iranian counterattack, which followed a coordinated US-Israeli military operation against Iran. She was struck by shrapnel from falling missiles and was pronounced dead while being rushed to the hospital. Her elderly patient also died in the same strike. De Vera had been working as a caregiver in Israel since 2019, and her identity was confirmed by her husband, who is also an overseas Filipino worker in Israel, and later verified through biometric records at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced her death in a video message on Sunday, expressing regret over the casualty and pledging full government support to her family. Marcos reported that De Vera was killed by bomb shrapnel while assisting her patient to reach a shelter. The Philippine government stated it is prepared for repatriation of her remains, with the Philippine Embassy in Israel confirming her identity and providing support to the family.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola to express condolences. Israel's foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein also verified de Vera's death, characterizing the strike as evidence of Iranian targeting of civilians. The Israeli embassy in Manila stated that De Vera was killed 'while selflessly assisting her patient' during the attack.
The Philippine government is actively monitoring the safety of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 Filipinos employed at US military bases across the Middle East throughout the escalating conflict. Filipinos in the region were advised to contact the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for emergencies. The government has established protocols for repatriation and is coordinating with Israeli authorities to facilitate the return of De Vera's remains to the Philippines.
This incident marks the first confirmed Filipino casualty in the current Middle East conflict, highlighting the risks faced by overseas Filipino workers in conflict zones. The Philippine government continues to assess the security situation and provide assistance to affected Filipino nationals while preparing for potential further evacuations or repatriations as the conflict evolves.
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