Philippines hoists Alert Level 1 over Guam, surrounding areas
In this May 11, 2017, file photo, a memorial is seen at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park near Hagatna, Guam. Security and defense officials on Guam said that there is no imminent threat to people there or in the Northern Mariana Islands after North Korea said it was examining its operational plans for attack. AP/Haven Daley, File
MANILA, Philippines — As the saber rattling between Washington and Pyongyang continues, the Department of Affairs on Monday agreed to place Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands under Alert Level 1 and urged Filipinos in these areas to be on alert and monitor the developments.
Under Alert Level 1, or the precautionary phase, Filipinos living and working in Guam should recognize that the situation is “out of the ordinary” and pay close attention to it.
“Filipino nationals in Guam, Saipan, Tinian and Rota are urged to be aware of the unfolding events and to continue monitoring reports from reliable media outlets and official advisories from the Government of Guam and Guam Homeland Security Office of Civil Defense,” the Consulate General in Agana said.
Marciano De Borja, the consul general, said that Filipinos should monitor the advisories from the Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense.
“All Filipinos are reminded to be ready to respond to any critical incident by having their passports and other documents readily on hand and to prepare a grab bag with essential supplies, including food and water,” he said.
North Korea has recently threatened to light up a missile and launch it towards waters 30 to 40 kilometers off the coast of Guam, a US territory in the Pacific home to hundreds of thousands of Americans and military bases.
Pyongyang’s plan came as US President Donald Trump warned that “fire and fury” would be unleashed if the isolated regime continued to issue threats and said that military solutions were “locked and loaded” for use against the North.
The tension on the Korean Peninsula has risen in recent months following Pyongyang’s tests of two intercontinental ballistic missiles allegedly capable of reaching the US mainland.
The North has also conducted nuclear tests, ratcheting up the stakes in the standoff that has hounded the region in the last decade.
Seoul and Pyongyang are still technically at war as the hostilities during the Korean Warn only ceased because of a truce and not a peace treaty.
The Philippines has assured its citizens in the affected areas that contingency measures are in place should North Korea decide to fire a missile off Guam, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano, who was in touch with De Borja.
Borja told Cayetano that the contingency plan had been updated to reflect the current threat scenario. He added that the Consul General’s office was ready to respond and assist Filipinos if the situation worsened.
“[P]lacing Guam and Northern Mariana Islands on Alert Level 1 for Filipino nationals is not intended to cause undue alarm or panic. This is simply to encourage our citizens to be vigilant and to be prepared should any critical incident arise,” De Borja said.
“Sa mga kamag-anak po ng mga Pilipinong narito sa Guam at Northern Marianas, manatili po tayong mahinahon,” he said, adding that life continued to be normal last weekend as residents and visitors flocked beaches and tourist spots on the islands.
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