PH condemns attack on oil tankers; calls for sobriety

FILE: Department of Foreign Affairs building (Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on Thursday condemned the recent attacks on two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz as it called for sobriety amid the rising tensions in the Gulf region.

On June 13, the MT Front Altair and the MT Kokuka Courageous were damaged during an incident off the strait. According to the DFA, the two oil tankers were carrying a total of 32 Filipino crewmembers aboard, who were repatriated on Wednesday.

“The Philippines expresses its appreciation to friendly governments for the rescue of Filipino seafarers who are crew members of the two disabled oil tankers sailing through the Gulf of Oman. At the same time, the Philippine government condemns the attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport and on the…oil tankers,” the agency said in a statement.

The DFA underscored that attacks on civilian installations and commercial shipping “can never be justified”.

“In the broader context of rising tensions within the region, the Philippine government urges all parties to exercise calm, patience and restraint, and resolve differences through peaceful dialogue and consultations to prevent further regrettable incidents from occurring,” it said.

On June 12, a day before the incident with the oil tankers, a missile hit the arrivals hall of the Abha International Airport southwest of Saudi Arabia, injuring 26 people.