A gas station attendant fills up the diesel tank of a jeepney in Quezon City. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte told public transport groups on Sunday that the high price of fuel that they have to endure is an effect of the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine.
“I’d like to make a warning itong mga association ng transport or everything, that is not the end, everytime that you complain and go into a demonstration, just make sure that you realize and understand the importance of oil and how it would affect all nations,” said Duterte.
Duterte said this, during his speech in the groundbreaking of Pampanga Provincial Hospital in Clark, Pampanga, after baring that the country’s exports and imports had been “derailed” by the ongoing “battle of attrition” between Russia and Ukraine.
“Talagang magdaan tayo ng hirap, kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa diyos, na matatapos na ko, kasi kawawa talaga itong susunod, tignan niyo. Hindi hihinto na ‘yan. Every day, the prices will increase, and increase, until we can have a stable situation,” the President said.
(We’re really going to have a hard time, so I’m thankful to god, that my term is about to end, because it will really be unfortunate for the next president. That won’t stop. Every day, the prices will increase, and increase, until we can have a stable situation.)
The country has no choice but to face this, said Duterte, as the only alternative will be a nuclear war.
“By that time hindi na kayo mag demonstrate diyan, kayong mga association ng mga drivers, operators, pag nuclear na wala na tayong pag uusapan at i-import, bakit pa? tapos na naman na lahat,” said Duterte.
(By that time you will no longer need to conduct a demonstration, you associations of drivers, operators, once we go nuclear we won’t have anything to talk about. For what? It will all be over.)
He then reiterated his past claim that a nuclear war will not spare the Philippines because of American military presence.
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