Leni: Philippines should prepare for escalation of conflict in Ukraine

The Philippines should be prepared for an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine following Russia's attack on Ukraine's separatist territories, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Thursday.

"Dapat tutukan ito. Dapat tutukan kasi anytime now, pwedeng mag-shift yung conditions na okay ngayon, tapos in a few days hindi na. So kailangan talaga, iyong mga plano kung saan sila [ang mga Pilipino] dadalhin ay maayos na," Robredo said in an interview at a campaign stop in Cebu.

(We should monitor these closely because anytime now, situations could shift anytime. It could be okay now but in the next few days, it could go another way. We really need to plan where to bring the Filipinos when that time comes.)

"Pero more than this, kailangan din nating paghandaan kung ano iyong epekto nito, halimbawa, sa presyo—iyong world prices ng langis. Marami tayong ibang produkto na iyon yung natural na consequence ng meron ganitong upheaval. pero iyong sa akin pinapakita ngayon how important iyong relationship natin with the other forces are concerned.

(Aside from this, we also have to prepare for the consequences of this conflict, such as the high prices of oil in the world market. That is one of the natural consequences of such upheaval. This also means that our relationship with other countries is crucial.)

Germany has already stopped the approval of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project from Russia as a sanction over Moscow's armed offensive in Ukraine's separatist territories.

This move is also expected to reduce oil supply not only in Germany but also in Europe.

"Parati kong inuulit na mahalaga iyong participation natin and membership natin sa coalition of nations. Para iyong pagresolve ng problema hindi natin sinasarili, pero iyong pag-resolve ng problema shineshare natin with all the other allies whether traditional or emerging allies natin," Robredo said.

(I have been saying that our membership in the coalition of nations is important because we cannot solve our problems on our own. We should work with both our traditional and emerging allies.)

"We continue to assess the situation very, very closely pero number one talaga iyong kaligtasan ng mga Pilipino doon," she added.

(Our prime concern is still the safety of Filipinos.)

Robredo earlier said in a presidential forum that the Philippines must secure the safety of Pinoys in the region if Russia invaded Ukraine. —NB, GMA News