00:01Iran allows what it calls non-hostile ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
00:06In a worst-case scenario, the Philippine Agriculture Department says retail prices
00:10of rice, orc, and chicken may increase by at least half. The Energy Department says
00:15the Philippines has an average fuel supply of 45 days as of March 20. A house panel summons
00:21ex-Sara Duterte aide Ramil Madriaga as hearings on her impeachment start. And a survey shows
00:27alleged involvement in corruption is the top reason for distrust in Sara Duterte.
00:39Iran tells the United Nations Security Council and the International Maritime Organization
00:43non-hostile vessels may pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This if they coordinate with Iranian
00:48authorities. In a letter sent to the Security Council, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says
00:54non-hostile vessels are those that do not take part in or support aggression against Iran and are not
00:59linked to the United States and Israel. It adds, vessels, equipment, and any assets that belong to
01:04the U.S. and Israel do not qualify for innocent or non-hostile passage. It also says Iran has taken
01:10quote, necessary and proportionate measures to prevent the aggressors from exploiting the Strait of Hormuz.
01:16Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada previously said they were ready
01:21to support efforts to ensure safe passage through the Hormuz and stabilize energy markets.
01:26The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has effectively halted shipments of about one-fifth of the world's
01:31oil and liquefied natural gas through the Strait, disrupting global oil supply.
01:37The Philippine Agriculture Department says retail prices of rice, pork, and chicken may increase by at
01:42least half under the worst-case scenario. Average oil prices may reach $200 per barrel.
01:48Chicken may spike to P324.64 per kilo or a 62% increase from P200 per kilo. Pork prices are
01:56estimated to increase by 59% and rise by 49%. This worst-case scenario may likely happen within
02:03180 days since the conflict erupted in the Strait of Hormuz. Agriculture Secretary Francisco
02:09Tiu Laurel Jr. says as of the moment prices are still within the pre-conflict status. He also says rice
02:15prices may begin to increase by August. He adds there's always the option to import or reduce
02:21tariffs but as Agriculture Secretary, he doesn't want that. Meantime, in an interview with Bloomberg
02:26News, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says the worldwide oil and energy crisis could be
02:31the quote-unquote impetus for the Philippines to come to an agreement on joint energy exploration with
02:36China. He was asked if he would consider developing gas resources with China in the disputed regions in
02:42the South China Sea. Marcos replies, quote, that's something we've been talking about for a great
02:47deal but the territorial disputes get in the way of that. When asked if he sees a reset in bilateral
02:53ties with Beijing amid massive disruptions in global geopolitics, Marcos says, quote, I think it's
02:58certainly going to happen. There's going to be a very, very serious restructuring. It was the first
03:03time Marcos personally signaled a desire to restart and improve ties with China. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin
03:11says the country had an average of 45 days supply of fuel as of March 20. This is down from
03:1755 to 57
03:18days supply when the war in the Middle East started nearly a month ago. Garin says the supply of LPG
03:23was at 23 days, jet fuel at 38 days, diesel at 45 days, gasoline at 53 days, fuel oil at
03:3061 days, and
03:31kerosene at 97 days. She adds the situation is not yet alarming since the average supply had not gone down
03:38to 15 days and she describes it as still manageable. In terms of prices, Garin says the increase this
03:44week will range from 8 to 12 pesos per liter for gasoline, 15 to 18 pesos per liter for diesel,
03:49and 12 to 22 pesos for kerosene. Meantime, Philippine Airlines announces it has enough jet fuel for
03:55operations until June. PAL will not cancel any flights except for select flights to the Middle East
04:00affected by the armed conflict. Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez tells Reuters the country
04:06is working with Washington to secure waivers and exemptions. This so it can obtain oil from US
04:12sanctioned countries to ensure supply. Asked whether Venezuelan and Iranian oil were being considered,
04:17Romualdez says all options remain on the table. Starting its hearings on the impeachment of Vice
04:24President Sara Duterte, the House Justice Committee acts on numerous pleadings and orders
04:28various personalities to testify. Duterte, as expected, skips the hearing, calling it a quote,
04:33phishing expedition. The committee also compels various government agencies to produce documents
04:38and records related to the investigation, such as Duterte's statement of assets, liabilities,
04:43and net worth from 2007 to 2013, 2016 to 2019, and 2022 to 2025. These people are invited to attend
04:51the hearings. Ramil Madriaga, a former aide of Duterte who claimed he had coordinated with her
04:55security officers in the delivery of wads of cash, presumably confidential funds, to various
05:00individuals. Cynthia Viñas-Pantonal, the lawyer who notarized Madriaga's affidavit, Gloria Camora,
05:06team leader of the Commission on Audit Office that looked into Duterte's confidential expenditures,
05:10and Michael Poa, former Department of Education Undersecretary and Office of the Vice President's
05:14spokesperson. The House committee also seeks additional protection for Madriaga, who said his
05:19life inside Camp Bagong Diwa is in danger. Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus
05:24Rodriguez, meantime, calls Madriaga a quote-unquote polluted source. The House has 60 session days
05:30from February 23 to resolve the complaints. If the committee report favors the move to impeach,
05:35a one-third vote in the House plenary will send the case to the Senate for a full trial.
05:39Only a Senate conviction can result in Duterte's removal and disqualification from public office.
05:46A Pulse Asia survey says Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged involvement in corrupt
05:51activities is the top reason for distrust in her. Pulse Asia says those with a positive
05:56opinion about the Vice President's trustworthiness are split in terms of their reasons for trusting.
06:01The survey firm adds, in contrast, the top reason for distrusting the VP is her alleged
06:06involvement in corrupt activities at 51.5%. The second primary reason is the threats she has
06:11made against the Marcos government and her critics at 21.4%. In November 2024, she bared a
06:18supposed assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family. For those
06:23who are undecided on whether or not to trust Duterte, 51% cite her failure to address the
06:28allegations regarding her misuse of the confidential funds, her supposed lack of
06:32knowledge about what she has accomplished at 17.8%, and her refusal to face investigations against
06:38her at 10.3%. A survey released mid-March showed Vice President Sara Duterte was still the most
06:44appreciated and trusted top official, but disapproval and distrust increased by double digits year on year.
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