The following article was written by prominent Filipino intellectual and political scientist Andrew J. Masigan and published in the renowned Filipino English-language daily Philippine Star. Based in Manila, Masigan is a special advisor to MEMRI's China Media Studies Project. In the following article, Masigan explains why the Islamic Republic of Iran is a threat to the global economy and stresses Iran's role in the October 7 massacre.
It is worth noting that Filipino civilians paid a heavy price on October 7. There were four Filipinos among the 1,200 people killed on that day: Paul Vincent Castelvi, Angelyn Aguirre, Loreta Alacre, and Grace Cabrera.
Paul Vincent Castelvi, 42 years old, worked as a caregiver in Kibbutz Be'eri, one of the communities most devastated during the October 7 massacre. His wife, Jovelle "Bell" Santiago, gave birth to their firstborn, for whom they had been waiting for many years, less than a month after he was murdered. The baby's name is Paul.[1]
Angelyn Aguirre, 32, is remembered for her bravery, as she chose to stay with her elderly patient when Hamas gunmen attacked Kfar Aza. Aguirre, who had been married for just over a year, was the first confirmed Filipino fatality of the Hamas attacks.[2]
Loreta Alacre, 49, was a Filipino caregiver living in Israel. She had been working in Israel for 17 years to support her family, especially the education of her nephews. She was supposed to return to the Philippines on December 13, 2023, to celebrate her 50th birthday.[3]
Grace Cabrera, 45, was a Filipina caregiver in Kibbutz Be'eri, who courageously protected her 95-year-old patient. As reported by the media, Cabrera was likely taken captive by Hamas terrorists and later shot, her body was dumped and only recovered on October 19, 2023.[4]
Gelienor "Jimmy" Leano Pacheco, 33, a Filipino caregiver and father of three, was instead taken hostage to Gaza by Hamas terrorists. He was released in a deal alongside ten Thai nationals in November 2023.[5]
Andrew J. Masigan
Following is Masigan's article:
We Are All Affected By The Actions Of The Ayatollah's Regime
Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Badr Organization, the Al-Ashtar Brigades – these are just some of the terrorist groups that function as the proxies of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei's regime. Since 1979, Iran's terrorist proxies have wrought terror and political upheaval in the Middle East, including the brutal assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The four Filipinos victims killed by Hamas on October 7: Paul Vincent Castelvi, Loreta Alacre, Angelyn Aguirre, and Grace Cabrera.
The ayatollah's reign of terror is driven by a mix of geopolitical, ideological, and security objectives. They are: To destroy and eliminate the state of Israel and oppose Western imperialism; to establish Iran as the leader of the global Shi'ite community and the broader Islamic world; to export Shi'ism to the Middle East and beyond; for Iran to become the dominant power in the Gulf; for Iran to be a nuclear power, thereby enabling her to project power worldwide; to upend the rules-based, free market, democratic system that was established by the United States and replace it with a world order that forwards the Iranian agenda. This is done in tandem with Russia, China, and North Korea.
In pursuit of these objectives, the regime has used multifaceted strategies including maintaining an iron grip on the domestic politics of Iran by maintaining strict control over all branches of government. Iran's Guardian Council, a body appointed by the ayatollah himself, vets candidates for political office, ensuring that only those loyal to the system are elected. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij militia suppress dissent and enforce ideological loyalty within the country.
It uses a unifying rhetoric. The ayatollah's regime uses anti-U.S. and anti-Israel rhetoric to galvanize domestic support and project its stance internationally. The ayatollah refers to the U.S. as the "Great Satan" and Israel as the "Little Satan," while positioning Iran as a leader in the resistance against Western imperialism.
It destabilizes the region. Through its terrorist proxies, the regime destabilizes countries in the Middle East as it promotes Shia beliefs. Simultaneously, it tries to undermine the influence of Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the West.
It tries to project strength. Through its nuclear program, Iran seeks to establish itself as a global power able to influence international policies
Regardless of whether one lives in Asia, the Americas or Europe, we are all affected by the actions of the ayatollah's regime in profound ways. It manifests itself in the proliferation of local terrorists who are emboldened by Iran's terrorist campaigns; in the disruption of supply chains that trigger price hikes of commodities by violently downsizing the traffic in the Red Sea by 60 percent; in humanitarian crises and the influx of refugees on our shores. In security threats toward our citizens who live or work in the Gulf.
For all the evil wrought by the ayatollah's terror strategies, surely, Western powers led by the United States and Israel can easily quash his regime. After all, Iran's relatively small economy and weaker military is no match for that of Israel and the U.S. combined.
So why have they not eliminated Khamenei's regime yet?
The answer lies in the ayatollah's leverage.
The Ayatollah's Leverage
Toppling Khamenei's regime would be as easy as bombing the island of Kharg, a 20-square-kilometer island in the Persian Gulf that serves as Iran's most important oil export facility and through which 90 percent of Iran's oil exports pass. Its revenues fund half of Iran's national budget and most of its terrorist operations. Eliminating Kharg could cripple both the Iranian economy and its machine of terror.
But the ayatollah has leverage over the U.S. and Israel.
The Strait of Hormuz lies on the southern coast of Iran and is part of its Exclusive Economic Zone, and the majority of oil exports from Arab countries pass through it. The ayatollah has threatened to impose a blockade on the strait should his regime be threatened and/or aggressive acts are waged on Iran. A blockade will immediately choke the global oil supply and trigger a worldwide oil crisis.
A fleet of destroyers need not be deployed to impose this blockade. All Iran has to do is launch missiles at oil tankers and plant explosive mines in the water, both of which are very well within Iran's capabilities. The mere threat of being hit by an Iranian missile or mine is enough to instill terror and render the strait impassable.
In fact, in 2019, two oil tankers sank off the Gulf of Oman. The cause was said to be Iran's simulation of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Even more serious is the ayatollah's threat to bomb the oil facilities of the Middle East. This includes those in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, and others. In one fell swoop, the ayatollah could destroy the planet's primary source of oil and cut the fuel that drives the global economy.
It will be recalled that in 2022, Houthi rebels attacked an oil depot in Jeddah ahead of a Formula 1 race. It was a statement of intent sending the message that the Ayatollah's regime would not hesitate to make good on its threats.
So, the ayatollah is holding the world hostage even as he wreaks terror in the Gulf. His threats have made him virtually untouchable – at least for now.
While the stakes could not be any higher, Israel must do what it must to reign in Iran. We can take consolation in the fact that Israel always takes all risks into consideration and always acts to minimize collateral damage.
*Andrew J. Masigan is the MEMRI China Media Studies Project Special Advisor. He is a Manila-based economist, businessman, and political columnist for The Philippine Star. Masigan's articles in MEMRI are also published in The Philippine Star. Follow him on Twitter @aj_masigan
[1] Timesofisrael.com/paul-vincent-castelvi-42-filipino-carers-son-born-posthumously/, November 14, 2023.
[2] Pna.gov.ph/articles/1211746, October 13, 2023.
[3] Timesofisrael.com/loreta-alacre-49-filipina-caregiver-who-supported-her-family-back-home, October 24, 2023.
[4] News.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/slideshow/11/07/23/second-filipino-martyr-in-israeli-hamas-conflict-arrives-home, November 7, 2023.
[5] Timesofisrael.com/taken-captive-jimmy-pacheco-filipino-caregiver-whose-abba-was-killed, November 20, 2023.