Manila, June 16 -- Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday called for restraint and renewed diplomacy amid rising hostilities between Israel and Iran, warning that continued escalation threatens not only regional stability but also the safety of Filipino workers across the Middle East.

"We are watching these developments with grave concern. Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., our foremost priority is the protection of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who may be caught in the crossfire of this dangerous standoff," Romualdez said in a statement.

He emphasized that the Philippines, as a peace-loving nation with deep ties across the region, has consistently supported diplomatic solutions to armed conflict.

"We call on all par...