President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday directed the military to prepare for the evacuation of thousands of Filipinos in Iran and Iraq should tensions flare in the Middle East following the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani last week.

Department of National Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said the President called Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., Philippine National Police officer in charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, the commanding generals of the Army, Air Force and Navy to an emergency meeting in Malacañang Sunday afternoon.