BREAKING: Filipina Caregiver Killed by Shrapnel in Israel — Mary Anne De Vera of Pangasinan Was Rushing Her Patient to a Bomb Shelter
The Middle East conflict has claimed its first confirmed Filipino life. President Marcos confirmed Sunday night that Mary Anne Velazquez De Vera, a caregiver from Pangasinan, was killed by shrapnel from falling bombs in Israel while trying to help her patient reach a bomb shelter.
'Siya ay namatay dahil tinamaan ng shrapnel ng mga bumagsak na bomba,' Marcos said in a statement released by Malacañang. De Vera's husband, who is also an OFW in Israel, has already identified her remains. She died doing what caregivers do — putting her patient's safety before her own.
The tragic death comes after Iran launched retaliatory missiles and drones at Israel and US military installations across the Gulf following the US-Israel strikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei on Saturday. While Iran said it targeted US bases, the strikes have caused widespread civilian casualties across the region.
Marcos assured De Vera's family that the government will provide all necessary assistance. Philippine embassies and labor officials across the Middle East have been on heightened alert since the fighting began, coordinating closely to ensure the safety of the more than 2 million Filipinos living and working in the region.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it 'stands ready to augment possible repatriation and crisis response efforts for Filipinos in affected areas, when directed.' De Vera's death transforms the Middle East crisis from a distant geopolitical event into a deeply personal tragedy for the Philippines — a sobering reminder of the real human cost paid by OFWs who risk their lives abroad to support their families back home.
Source: Rappler
