Duterte allies use Iran war threat to attack Philippines’ US ties

Supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte have amplified viral claims that Iran could target the Philippines in retaliation for US actions in the Middle East, a narrative analysts say is being used to portray the country’s defence ties with Washington as a threat to national security.The rumours spread widely enough online that the Philippines" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="19015" data-entity-type="organization">Armed Forces of the Philippines felt compelled to issue a public rebuttal.On Tuesday, armed forces spokeswoman Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said there was “currently no credible direct threat to Philippine territory or to Filipinos and the foreign nationals in the country”.She told reporters: “The Philippines" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="19015" data-entity-type="organization">Armed Forces of the Philippines assures the public that national security conditions remain stable. The public is encouraged to remain calm, exercise vigilance against disinformation, and rely only on verified government sources.”Her remarks followed social media posts by Davao City Congressman Paolo Duterte, son of the former president, and ex-poll commissioner and congresswoman Rowena Guanzon suggesting that the Philippines could be dragged into the widening US-Iran conflict.Paolo Duterte in 2017. The Davao City congressman has suggested the Philippines could be dragged into the US-Iran conflict. Photo: ReutersOn Sunday, Paolo Duterte wrote on social media that “with tensions escalating globally including the widening fallout of the US-Iran conflict and the ever-present risk of a larger confrontation involving China, these EDCA sites [hosting American soldiers] turn our communities, airports, and seaports into potential battlegrounds”.