PH tells Pinoys in Saudi: Take 'heightened caution' amid security concerns

The two Philippine diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia have jointly advised Filipinos in the country to take "heightened caution" amid its ongoing tensions with Iran-aligned Houthi forces.

In an advisory issued on October 9, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah outlined precautionary measures for Filipino citizens in view of recent security developments.

The advisory asks Filipinos to remain, vigilant, and alert for their own safety and protection.

"Exercise heightened caution, avoid unnecessary exposure to potential security risks, stay indoors when necessary, particularly during security alerts," the advisory read.

It likewise advised Filipinos to comply with safety and security directives that may be issued the Saudi Civil Defense and relevant authorities.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have escalated their campaign of strikes against Saudi Arabia, trying to shut down the kingdom's airspace and oil facilities with missile fire that has killed at least three people this week.

The group has claimed that it struck the Riyadh airport. Saudi officials said debris from an intercepted missile had hit a kindergarten and medical complex.

In the wake of these incidents, the Philippine diplomatic missions urged caution when traveling in the country.

"Those traveling by air are advised to check their flight status directly with their airlines, as security developments may result in flight delays, cancellations, or other disruptions," the advisory said.

They likewise warned against approaching, touching, or collecting "suspicious" unidentified objects or fragments due to drone or missile interceptions.

Those within the vicinity of such incidents should move to distance and report the objects or debris to local authorities.

Finally, Filipinos were urged to refrain from spreading unverified reports, photographs, or videos regarding the security incidents.

The two Philippine diplomatic offices will continue normal operations and provide consular assistance to Filipinos.

Data gathered by GMA News Researched showed that as of March 1, 2026, some 813,000 Filipinos are based in Saudi Arabia.

Thousands of Filipinos have been repatriated since earlier this year as regional tensions spiked following the conflict between Iran and United States-Israeli forces. — VDV, GMA News