The Vanguard Posted on Mar. 7, 2026 at 6:51 pm
Filipina Caregiver Killed in Iranian Missile Attack in Israel
March 2 — A Filipina caregiver died after an Iranian missile struck her apartment in Tel Aviv on March 1, becoming the first Filipino casualty in the escalating Middle East conflict. Mary Ann Velasquez de Vera, 32, from Pangasinan, was fatally injured while selflessly assisting her elderly patient to safety during the attack. Her patient survived .
The strike was part of Iran’s retaliatory operation following joint US-Israeli preemptive strikes. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured assistance to de Vera’s family, with the Philippine government preparing financial support and repatriation of her remains once airspace reopens.
Ombudsman Remulla: ‘Maleta Boys Stage Destabilization Plot to Trigger Coup’
March 2 — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla dismissed allegations by 18 self-proclaimed former Marines as a politically motivated scheme aimed at provoking a military coup against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The alleged “ex-Marines” claimed they delivered cash to former senator Antonio Trillanes IV intended to bribe the International Criminal Court. But Remulla said the affidavit as an attempt to create a “political tipping point” that would incite unrest within the armed forces. The Ombudsman deputized the National Bureau of Investigation to validate the identities of the complainants.
Trillanes denied the accusations and filed countercharges against the “ex-Marines” and their lawyer for perjury and cyber libel . Remulla maintained he is not personally leading the investigation to avoid conflict of interest.
House Panel Sets 2 Duterte Impeachment Complaints Sufficient
March 2 — The House Justice Committee on March 2 voted to set aside the first impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte for violating the one-year bar rule, leaving two remaining complaints deemed sufficient in form.
In a 22-10 vote, the panel dismissed the complaint filed by the Makabayan bloc and activist groups on Feb. 2, ruling it fell within the Constitution’s one-year prohibition period. The Supreme Court previously ruled no impeachment proceeding may commence before Feb. 6, 2026.
The committee also approved the withdrawal of the second complaint filed by civil society groups, whose complainants opted to support the third complaint instead to expedite proceedings .
Following these developments, the panel declared the remaining complaints—filed by Rev. Joel Saballa et al. and lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera—as sufficient in form, allowing them to proceed to determine whether the allegations constitute impeachable offenses under the Constitution.
DFA keeps Alert Level 2 in Iran, Israel; no forced evacuation ordered
March 3 — The Department of Foreign Affairs maintained Alert Level 2 in Iran and Israel, not ordering mandatory evacuation despite escalating conflict in the region. Under Alert Level 2, Filipinos are advised to “shelter in place, avoid high-risk areas, and exercise increased caution,” with travel discouraged. There are approximately 823 Filipinos in Iran and 30,347 in Israel .
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said repatriation flights remain suspended due to airport closures and no-fly zones, emphasizing “safety first” for overseas Filipino workers. While 1,416 Filipinos have requested repatriation, the government cannot conduct evacuation operations until safe passage is assured.
Marcos to Korean investors: Reforms in place to boost PH business climate
March 4 — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured South Korean business leaders his administration is pushing economic reforms to strengthen investor confidence and improve the business climate in the Philippines .
Marcos cited legislative measures and executive orders supporting investment growth. He urged investors to explore priority sectors beyond existing deals, including automotive manufacturing, electronics, and biotechnology.
The Philippines secured business agreements across shipbuilding, nuclear energy, aerospace, critical minerals, retail, and health and wellness sectors, further deepening economic ties between Manila and Seoul.
Gabriela Files Complaint vs Suntay for ‘Sexist’ Remarks
March 5 — Gabriela Women’s party-list filed an ethics complaint against Quezon City Rep. Jesus Suntay over his “sexist” remarks about actress Anne Curtis during a House justice committee hearing. Suntay likened Vice President Sara Duterte’s assassination remark to the “hot desire” he felt upon seeing Curtis at a mall, saying he couldn’t be sued for his imagination.
Marcos Orders 4-Day Work Week for Government Starting March 9
March 6 — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced in a video message, a temporary four-day work week for Executive branch agencies starting March 9 as an energy-saving measure amid the ongoing Middle East conflict .
The order covers most agencies under the Executive branch, excluding frontline and emergency services like police and fire departments. Marcos also ordered all government offices to reduce electricity use and petroleum purchases by 10 to 20% and suspend unnecessary travel and face-to-face activities that can be conducted online.
