The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has a contingency plan for the possible evacuation of Filipinos amid the tension in the Middle East, its chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr., said on Tuesday.

Brawner made the statement following the death of a Filipina caregiver in Israel due to injuries after an Iranian missile attack.

“Meron po tayong mga contingency plan. Ang tawag po natin dito sa operation na ito is non-combatant evacuation operation,” Brawner said in an ambush interview.

(We have contingency plans. What we call this operation is a non-combatant evacuation operation.)

“Nakahanda rin po ang Armed Forces, nakahanda yung ating mga C-130, yung ating mga barko, just in case na kailanganin po na i-evacuate ulit ‘yung ating mga kababayan pabalik dito sa ating bansa,” he added.

(The Armed Forces, our C-130s, and our ships are also ready just in case it is necessary to evacuate our countrymen back to our country.)

In the past decade, Brawner said the Philippines had evacuated Filipinos from the Middle East.

“Matagal na po nating ginagawa ito. Noong nakaraang dekada, noong nagkaroon ng problema po sa Middle East, ay nagpadala tayo ng dalawang barko na sunduin ‘yung mga Pilipino na gustong umuwi po sa ating bansa,” he added.

(We have been doing this for a long time. Last decade, when there was a problem in the Middle East, we sent two ships to pick up Filipinos who wanted to return to our country.)

Aside from this, Brawner said he instructed AFP personnel to revisit and update their plan as well as prepare their platforms, including aircraft and ships.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) earlier expressed its condolences to the relatives of the Filipina caregiver who died in Israel after an Iranian missile attack.

“The DMW deeply mourns the passing of OFW caregiver Leah Mosquera, a victim of an Iranian missile attack on the City of Rehovot, Israel last 15 June 2025,” the DMW said.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to Ms. Mosquera’s family. Truly, OFW Leah’s dedication and quiet heroism embody the strength and sacrifices of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who carry the hopes and dreams of their families, their communities, and our nation,” it added.

Mosquera, 49 and a native of Negros Occidental, underwent several surgeries at Shamir Medical Center and “fought for her life” in the intensive care unit for several weeks, according to the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Iran’s offensive against Israel was in response to Tel Aviv’s Operation Rising Lion, which is a military action supposed to deter or eradicate Tehran’s nuclear program. —VAL, GMA Integrated News