The Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines said it is verifying reports that a Filipino national was killed while fighting in Ukraine, following claims circulated by Ukrainian military intelligence and reported by foreign media.
DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona said the department is checking the details of the report and will issue a statement once verification is completed.
Malacañang also confirmed that it has not received official confirmation of the incident. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government is first establishing the facts surrounding the report.
“Wala pa pong ipapaabot sa atin patungkol po diyan pero titignan po natin ang pinaka-konteksto (At this time, there is nothing official to report, but we will examine the full context),” Castro said during a press briefing, responding to questions about a Filipino allegedly killed while fighting for Russia.
The report originated from the Kyiv Post, which cited Ukraine’s Military Intelligence as saying a Filipino identified as John Patrick was among Russian troops killed in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian intelligence said the death occurred near the village of Novoselivka in the Kramatorsk district.
According to the intelligence report, the Filipino national was allegedly assigned to Russia’s 9th Assault Company of the 3rd Battalion of the 283rd Regiment under the 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the Russian Armed Forces’ 20th Combined Arms Army. The agency claimed he was killed during what it described as a “meat assault,” a term it uses for heavy frontal attacks.
Castro said the Palace would coordinate with other agencies as part of the verification process.
“Aalamin po natin mismo sa (We will coordinate directly with the) Secretary of Defense,” she said.
The DFA has not confirmed the identity, citizenship status, or circumstances of the reported death as of posting time, stressing that verification remains ongoing.
