Duterte blames US anew for PH inflation

DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said his critics are just using the soaring prices of basic commodities in the country as grounds to discredit his administration.

Speaking at the Davao International Airport after arriving from his trips to Israel and Jordan, Duterte said there is also no rice shortage in the country as government has more than 4.8 metric tons of supplies.

Duterte also again slammed the U.S. for imposing high tariffs on certain global products which he said, triggered high inflation in the country’s domestic economy.

“Inflation, yes..Why? Sino ang nagsimula? America… Nung tinaas ang rates nagtaasan lahat. Ganun yan…wala tayong magawa dyan…because America, (U.S. President Donald) Trump wanted it,” he said.

“So I will admit there is inflation. Sino bang Presidente na hindi nakatikim ng inflation? he added.

Prices of food, especially rice, fish, meat and vegetables, rose further in August as inflation posted a record high of 6.4 percent year-on-year. /muf