National Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro on Tuesday dismissed concerns that the Philippines could be drawn into the escalating conflict in the Middle East because of its alliance with the United States, saying such fears are misplaced.
“That is unfounded dahil hindi natin ma-ihahambing ang sitwasyon sa Middle East dito sa Pilipinas,” Teodoro said in an interview after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s press briefing in Malacañang.
Teodoro stressed that the country’s bilateral and multilateral alliances are strictly for defensive and deterrent purposes, and should not be misconstrued as involvement in external wars.
“So, para ihambing ang sitwasyon sa Middle East dito sa Indo-Pacific, that’s based on a false premise,” he added.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier clarified that there is no direct military threat to national security arising from the hostilities.
As chair of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Teodoro said the Department of National Defense is coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Foreign Affairs, and other agencies to support repatriation efforts.
A 32-year-old Filipino caregiver in Israel was killed on February 28 when Iranian missiles struck Tel Aviv, marking the first Filipino casualty since the outbreak of US-Israel attacks.
Meanwhile, Anadolu news agency reported that US forces have targeted Iran’s military command centers, missile sites, and naval assets in the first 48 hours of “Operation Epic Fury.”
US President Donald Trump claimed that 49 Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed.
Anadolu also reported at least six US service members dead and 18 others seriously wounded since operations began.