Locsin: PH to be affected 'deeply' by attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 15) — The country's top diplomat said the Philippines will be affected by the attacks on one of the world's biggest oil facilities.

In a tweet Sunday, Foreign Affairs secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. said, "This is serious. It will — not could — affect us deeply.”

"To put it bluntly, an oil shortage or steep rise in oil price will rock the Philippine boat & tip it over. So everybody shut the f**k up and focus. No more clowns. Declaring state of emergency won't save our economy but kill it," he said.

Locsin gave the statement after strikes hit Saudi Arabia, at Saudi Aramco’s oil processing facilities in Abqaiq, as well as their oil field in Khurai.

A report from CNN said Houthi rebels took responsibility for the attack.

Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil exporter, latest figures from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said it produces 9.8 million barrels a day.

On Sunday, the International Energy Agency said they were monitoring the situation closely.

"We are in contact with Saudi authorities as well as major producer and consumer nations. For now, markets are well supplied with ample commercial stocks," it said in a tweet.