The Philippine National Police (PNP) has placed all units, particularly those in Metro Manila, on alert as part of precautionary security measures following air strikes in the Middle East.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said that while there is no credible threat to the Philippines and no direct security impact from the conflict, police forces will remain vigilant and proactive.
“We have not detected a credible threat but our personnel remain vigilant and proactive. The situation is being monitored and we are in close coordination with other government agencies on this matter,” Nartatez said.
The PNP has raised its alert level to secure foreign establishments and key officials, particularly those linked to the United States and Israel.
“We need to secure their establishments and we are continuously doing that. Not only establishments and VIPs of these two countries but the rest of the countries that are allied with them,” he added.
Coordination has been intensified with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other intelligence partners to monitor possible spillover effects, including terror threats or radicalization.
Nartatez directed the PNP Intelligence Group to step up monitoring of extremist narratives and online radicalization. Police visibility has also been increased in major urban areas, transportation hubs, and vital installations, alongside random inspections nationwide.
Coordination has likewise been strengthened with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and other security agencies to track foreign-influenced propaganda and extremist activities.
Tensions escalated after reported coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian-linked targets, with Iran vowing retaliation. A Filipino caregiver was reportedly killed in a retaliatory Iranian air strike in Israel.
Despite the volatile situation abroad, Nartatez emphasized that the PNP’s primary focus remains on domestic threats, including criminal elements, communist rebels, and local terror groups.
“With or without the conflict in the Middle East, the PNP is standing firm especially with our commitment to keep the public safe and there is peace and order in our community,” he said.
He also urged the public to stay calm, vigilant, and avoid spreading disinformation related to the conflict.