Marcos Jr. announces free calls to Middle EastOverseas Filipino workers line up at the immigration counters of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in this photo taken in October 2024MANILA, Philippines — Telecommunication firms will offer free communication services to allow Filipinos to talk to their family members in the Middle East, President Marcos announced. “Further assistance (has) been initiated for our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in the Middle East,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday. “I have directed our telecommunications companies to provide free communication services between our OFWs and their families here in the Philippines,” Marcos added. Iran retaliated by targeting American and Israeli bases across the Middle East, where about 2.5 million Filipinos live and work. Facts, not hearsayThe repatriation of Filipinos from the Middle East must be based on facts, not hearsay, Malacañang said on Sunday (Monday Manila time).

Source: Philippine Star March 09, 2026 16:11 UTC