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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider AFP says PH 'not under any threat' from Iranian missiles

AFP says PH 'not under any threat' from Iranian missiles

Air Force, Navy on standby for OFW repatriation

Published Mar 3, 2026 04:47 pm
(Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines)
(Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines)
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured the public on Tuesday, March 3, that the country is “not under any threat” from Iranian missile systems, making it safe from the reaching grip of the conflict in the Middle East.
Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS), pointed out the sheer geographical distance between the two regions. He noted that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) lacks the reach to hit Philippine soil or Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites.
“The largest missile system of the IRGC would only reach up to 2,000 kilometers. We are 7,500 kilometers away,” he said.
“Iran does not have any state or non-state proxy in this part of the globe,” he added.
The conflict in the Middle East has intensified following a series of retaliatory strikes between the United States, Israel, and Iran, sparking concerns over the safety of thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Gulf.
In the local scene, several sectors have expressed fears that the country might be caught in the crossfire due to the presence of nine EDCA sites nationwide, a concern that was immediately dismissed by the Department of National Defense (DND), AFP, and other security sectors.
While the military sees no direct kinetic threat to the Philippines, it is preparing for a massive humanitarian mission if the situation boils over.
Col. Ma Christina Basco, Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson, confirmed that “contingency planning” is underway as she identified the C130 cargo planes from the Air Mobility Command as the primary assets for potential extraction.
“We are ready to prepare our assets in case we need to repatriate our Filipino nationals," Basco said.
However, she admitted that entering Middle Eastern airspace would be difficult if it is “blocked” and would require deliberate planning with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
The Philippine Navy (PN) is also readying its sealift vessels, according to PN spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez.
She recalled that the Navy successfully conducted similar missions in 2020, when BRP Davao del Sur (LD602) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) were sent to the Middle East to repatriate overseas Filipinos amid escalating US-Iran tensions.
“All ships could be a sealift vessel. We have several sealift vessels in our Navy and your Navy is prepared,” Martinez said.

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