Send warships to Strait of Hormuz? Teodoro says PH does not have the capability

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the Philippines currently has no capability to deploy warships to escort oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Teodoro made the statement after United States President Donald Trump called on partner nations to "help secure" the strait amid the tensions in the Middle East.

“Wala tayong capability na mag-escort,” Teodoro told reporters in an ambush interview.

(We don't have the capability to escort.)

Teodoro also discouraged escalating the crisis in the Middle East, considering that many Filipino seafarers and overseas Filipino workers may be affected.

“Ang nalalagay sa panganib yung Filipino seafarers natin at saka yung mga OFWs natin,” Teodoro said.

(Our Filipino seafarers and OFWs are the ones at risk.)

“Lahat ng moves na mag-escalate ito lalo na yung mga indiscriminate na attack, dapat sana mapara agad at we look for the early resolution of the crisis in the Middle East,” he added.

(All moves to escalate this, especially indiscriminate attacks, should be stopped immediately and we look for the early resolution of the crisis in the Middle East.)

Reuters earlier reported that Trump urged other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines).

This came after Iran threatened escalation across the Middle East to retaliate for Washington's bombing of its main Gulf island energy hub.

"The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!" Trump wrote in a social media post.

"The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that 'everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well.'"

Trump later accused some Western allies of ingratitude after several countries rebuffed his demand to send warships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Reuters reported that a number of US partners, including Germany, Spain and Italy, said they had no immediate plans to send ships. —VAL, GMA Integrated News