Bulacan mayor, 11 vice mayors stranded in Dubai

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March 5, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — An incumbent mayor and 11 vice mayors from Bulacan on a personal trip in the Middle East when the US-Israel war against Iran broke out are now stranded in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla yesterday confirmed reports about Filipino local officials who have been stuck in the Middle East due to the armed conflict.

Remulla said the local officials left the country last Wednesday after securing a travel authority from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“Vice mayors from Bulacan, around 11 of them are now stuck in Dubai,” he said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

Asked if the officials were on an official business trip, Remulla said they were in the Middle East in their personal capacity.

Remulla said they are verifying information the mayor who is part of the group did not secure a travel authority from DILG.

Asked if the local officials have asked for assistance from him, Remulla said there is no request from them so far.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police is coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers and Department of Foreign Affairs in providing assistance in any plan to repatriate overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East.

Situation in UAE stable

The situation in the United Arab Emirates remains stable since the eruption of the conflict in the Middle East last weekend, Philippine Ambassador Alfonso Ver said on Wednesday.

Ver, in an interview with “Storycon” on One News, said a limited number of flights have begun to operate as the number of projectiles from Iran’s retaliatory strikes started to taper off. – Janvic Mateo