Senator Robin Padilla did not mince words in a recent Facebook post, expressing dismay over what he perceives as the Filipino public’s lack of attention to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
“Ang lahat ng bansa ngayon ay nakabantay at naghahanda sa magiging epekto sa ekonomiya at seguridad ng gera ng Israel at Iran. Pero ang Pinoy, ‘pulitika pa rin ang almusal, tanghalian, merienda at hapunan,’” wrote Padilla.
His remarks come in the wake of Israel’s large-scale airstrike on Iran on June 13, which has intensified global fears of a regional war. While Padilla did not name any specific political issue in his post, many netizens believe he may have been referring to the ongoing discussions surrounding the possible impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte — a hot-button topic in Philippine politics.
Padilla has been vocal about his concern over global instability, having posted earlier warnings about tensions not just in the Middle East but also involving other major powers. In a separate statement, he urged the public and the government to be informed and prepared:
“Ako kailanman hindi naging personal ang aking mga isyu sa administrasyon kayat ang aking salmo ay patungkol sa napipintong karahasan na parating… Kulang na sa 2 linggo ang palugit ni Trump at papasok na sila sa Israel-Iran war at kapag nangyari ito, maaring kumalat na sa buong region ng Middle East ang kaguluhan.”
He emphasized the need for a clear public stance and understanding of the country’s obligations under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States, noting: “Malinaw sa Mutual Defense Treaty ng Pilipinas at America ang salitang PACIFIC… May mga nagsasabi na maging neutral pero paano tayo magiging neutral kung meron tayong MDT? Kapag inatake ang Amerika, meron pa ba tayong oras para dumaan sa constitutional processes?”
Padilla also raised concerns about the country’s preparedness should conflict spill over into the Pacific region, particularly in terms of protecting American assets and personnel.
“In shaa Allah, bago sana tayo madamay sa kaguluhan na ito, magkaroon na sana ng malawakang public information sa pinakamahalagang isyu — at ‘yun ay paano ang pagtugon sa maaaring pagkawala ng mga basic na pangangailangan ng taongbayan kapag natuloy ang fireworks ng mga dambuhalang mga bansa,” he added.
He ended his post with a strong appeal: “Stop the war. Stop the killings. No to World War 3.”
