US-Venezuela conflict no impact on PH economy —DepDev

The ongoing conflict between the United States and Venezuela will have no effect on the Philippine economy, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Monday.

"With respect to the impact of Venezuela there is hardly nothing," Balisacan told reporters in a Palace briefing.

"I don't think there's going to be a perceptive effect on us...As it is, our links —directly and indirectly— to Venezuela's economy is strong," he said.

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, earlier expressed concern about the escalating conflict between the United States and Venezuela, calling on both parties to respect international law and to restore peace and order.  

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila) said the United States would take over Venezuela, following what he described as a “successful” overnight military operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas.

Maduro was brought to the US to face various charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy.

The Venezuelan leader, however, has denied the allegations, saying Washington was intent on taking control of his country’s oil reserves.

The DFA earlier said it is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela following the US’ attack. There are over 70 Filipinos currently in Venezuela.

The Philippine Embassy in Colombia said Monday that all Filipinos in Venezuela are safe amid the tension following the attack by the US. —AOL, GMA Integrated News