09/04/2026
During a chance interview following the 84th Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) commemoration in Davao City on Thursday, April 9, 2026, Vice President Sara Duterte addressed the ongoing economic impact of the Middle East conflict on local petroleum prices.
The Vice President explicitly stated that questions regarding the government's concrete actions to address the oil crisis should be directed to the President:
"Dapat tanungin natin ang ating pangulo, ano ba ang ginagawa niya para tulungan ang mga kababayan natin na tinatamaan o nahihirapan dahil dito sa epekto ng krisis sa Middle East." (We should ask our president what he is doing to help our fellow citizens who are affected or struggling because of the effects of the Middle East crisis.)
Key Points from the Statement:
Proposed Solutions:
Duterte suggested that fuel prices could be lowered if the government addresses regional supply issues or secures alternative oil sources that bypass the Middle East.
Economic Warning:
She warned that pump prices would likely remain high as long as hostilities in the Middle East continue, and called for agencies to monitor prices of basic goods and transportation.
Criticism of Leadership: In addition to her comments on the oil crisis, she used the occasion to criticize the current state of the nation, claiming the administration has "failed" Filipino soldiers due to the absence of an independent foreign policy.
The Vice President attended the event at the Veterans Memorial Monument in Davao City, while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the national rites at Mt. Samat in Bataan