PNP: No serious threat monitored in PH in connection with Israel-Hamas war

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has not monitored any serious threat in the country in relation to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“Wala pa po tayong namo-monitor na any serious threat relating nga po dito sa conflict with Israel and Hamas diyan particularly sa lugar ng Israel,” said PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo in a press briefing on Wednesday.

(We have not monitored any serious threat relating to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, particularly in Israel.)

However, Fajardo said PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. has given instructions to continue monitoring any "possible spillover" of the Israel-Hamas war in the country.

Fajardo said the PNP continues to have security deployment and monitoring in embassies, commercial establishments, cell sites, power and water infrastructures, terminals and major thoroughfares.

“Kasama po iyan sa binabantayan, as part of precautionary measures, na hindi tayo malusutan ng anumang banta at patuloy tayong nakikipag-coordinate din sa ating counterparts to make sure kung may na-receive tayong raw information, ay ma-validate properly in coordination sa ibang ahensya ng ating gobyerno,” she said.

(Those are among the areas we are monitoring as part of our precautionary measures, so possible threats would not be able to get through. We continue to coordinate with our counterparts to make sure that raw information will be validated properly in coordination with other government agencies.)

Earlier, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary  Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. said the Philippines is monitoring any possible spillover effects of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.

“We're monitoring possible spillover or copycat effects, pero ngayon wala pa kaming nakikita,” Teodoro told reporters.

(We're monitoring possible spillover or copycat effects but we don't see one at the moment.)

“Anybody can copy whatever, you know, happened in the Middle East. Disruptors, let’s call that, or extremists. Any country in any part of the world, even in Europe, is on high alert for the possible effects of this on their security situations,” added Teodoro.

Recently, a 6-year-old Muslim boy was killed and his mother was wounded after a 71-year-old man attacked and stabbed them for their religion in Illinois.

In Beijing, an Israeli diplomat was also stabbed after Hamas' declaration of "day of rage" against Israel across the globe.

Hamas militants carried out their deadliest attack in Israel's history on October 7, when gunmen rampaged through Israeli towns.

Israel has retaliated with air strikes on Gaza that have razed entire districts.

So far, four Filipinos have been confirmed to have died in the conflict, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). 

The DFA said the latest casualty was one of the three missing Filipinos and was a female caregiver.

Israel is home to at least 30,000 workers from the Philippines, majority working as caregivers and nurses, while 135 Filipinos remain trapped in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. —VAL, GMA Integrated News