World owes Filipino workers protection, Gibo tells European leadersDefense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. delivers his keynote address at the 2026 Paris Defence and Strategy Forum on March 25, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — Countries that rely on Filipino workers to staff their hospitals, man their ships and care for their elderly have a duty to help protect them, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro Jr. told a gathering of European defense leaders on Wednesday, March 25, as the war in the Middle East continues to affect over two million Filipino workers. "One in three are healthcare professionals, form (sic) the backbone of providing healthcare to both Europeans and Americans," Teodoro said. "And this obligation is simply, we should work together to protect them, to protect their home countries, under a shared vision of international law." Teodoro also used the Paris address to call out China directly.

Source: Philippine Star March 27, 2026 05:01 UTC