As tension in the Middle East continues to rise, multiple Facebook pages and users are circulating a graphic card styled as an “Emergency Alert Advisory” declaring that work and classes are suspended from March 3 to 6, warning that Iran is about to bomb the Philippines. This is false.
The first post, published March 2 on FB, showed a dramatic aerial photograph of a city engulfed in smoke and flames that features the Philippine and Iranian flags. It bore the text:
“Emergency Alert Advisory. WORK & CLASS SUSPENDED. MARCH 3–6, 2026. Pilipinas, Pinag-iingat, Posibleng Sunod na Bobombahin ng Iran sa Darating na Araw.”
(Emergency Alert Advisory. Work and class suspended. Philippines, be warned, possibly the next to be bombed by Iran in the coming days).
Several similar graphics surfaced hours after the initial posting up to the following day. Each post had the caption:
“EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT. Dahil sa umiiral na tensyon at posibleng banta sa seguridad, pansamantalang sinuspinde ang klase sa ilang piling lugar bilang pag-iingat sa kaligtasan ng publiko.”
(Due to prevailing tensions and possible security threat, classes have been temporarily suspended in select areas as a precautionary measure for public safety).
On March 3, an FB page posted yet another iteration of the fake advisory, this time updating the dates to March 4 to 6. The text was superimposed in the background of a photo of a burning city with the flags of Iran and the Philippines.
No such suspension of work or classes has been declared. The Philippine National Police has debunked the viral graphic, urging the public to verify information they get before sharing to prevent the spread of misinformation that would disrupt public order.
There has been no proclamation, executive order or advisory about a suspension on the covered dates, either from Malacañang, the Department of Education or the Civil Service Commission.
On Feb. 28, United States and Israeli forces conducted airstrikes targeting Iran. Retaliatory strikes from Iran followed, hitting U.S. military installations in Gulf states that led to rising tensions in the Middle East.
In an FB post, the Department of National Defense said there was no “credible direct threat to our territory” and the National Security Council confirmed tensions were confined in that region.
The erroneous graphic appeared amid public anxiety following news of the death of Mary Anne Velazquez De Vera, a Filipina caregiver from Pangasinan killed by shrapnel in Israel while helping her elderly ward reach a bomb shelter.
As of writing, the fake post published by FB pages Emergency Alert Advisory (created on Aug. 23, 2024), Gov.ph Updates (created on May 5, 2025), Boses ng Masa (created on April 25, 2025), Walang Pasok Advisory (created on Nov. 2, 2023), and two FB users collectively garnered 8,445 reactions; 3,522 comments; and 17,261 shares.
