The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has alerted its troops in Northern Luzon to the possibility of a missile launch by North Korea targeting Guam.
According to Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs chief, Northern Luzon would be most vulnerable should the heated exchange between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) go beyond words.
Arevalo assured that, while the Philippines was not part of the conflict or the “verbal tussle” between the US and the DPRK, the AFP would be prepared for any eventuality.
“In the remote possibility that this [missile attack in Guam] happens we are particularly directing the Northern Luzon Command (NolCom) to be prepared,” he said.
NolCom has its headquarters in Camp Gen. Servillano S. Aquino in Tarlac City.
He explained that some experts had raised the possibility of missile debris from an attack in Guam affecting the northern part of the Philippines.
“In this regard we are placing the NolCom on alert,” Arevalo said. “They already have a contingency plan for evacuation if necessary.”
Also part of the AFP preparations is the possible evacuation of Filipinos from Guam should the Philippine government decide to have them repatriated. /atm