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Metro Manila, Philippines – Motorists are bracing for another round of pump price hikes effective tomorrow, Tuesday, April 7, with diesel prices rising by another double-digit amount. Oil companies will implement the following price adjustments per liter: Shell Pilipinas: Diesel – ₱19.80 Gasoline – ₱5.90 Kerosene – ₱9.10 Petron: Diesel – ₱18.80 Gasoline – ₱4.90 Kerosene – ₱8.10 Jetti Petroleum: Diesel – ₱18.60 Gasoline – ₱5.40 This story will be updated.

Metro Manila, Philippines – A comprehensive bill responding to the Middle East crisis has been filed in the Senate, proposing temporary regulation of the oil industry and additional taxes on the wealthy to fund expanded government assistance programs. Senator Loren Legarda filed the “Bayanihan 3: Power to the People” bill on Monday, April 6, the first working day after the Holy Week break. The measure is reminiscent of the Bayanihan law during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill notes the state of national energy emergency declared by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and institutionalizes a whole-of-government response to the global oil crisis. It also grants the chief executive additional emergency powers to stabilize prices and ensure supply. These powers include directing the Department of Energy (DOE), in coordination with the Departments of Finance and Trade and Industry and the Philippine Competition Commission, to “regulate, direct, and manage the oil industry, and to…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is urging the government to refund fuel excise taxes already paid by oil companies to immediately cut pump prices. In a press briefing on Monday, April 6, Gatchalian acknowledged that the law granting the president the authority to suspend or reduce excise taxes — set to take effect next week — would not result in an immediate drop in prices. “Kasi ang sistema natin, pagpasok ng langis, bayad ka kaagad ng excise tax. So marami dito sa old inventory nila, bayad na ‘yung excise tax. So kahit na i-suspend on April 13, kung ibebenta ‘yung old inventory, hindi naman natin mararamdaman iyan,” Gatchalian said.  [Translation: Our system requires oil companies to pay excise tax as soon as fuel is imported. That means a large portion of their existing inventory has already been taxed. So even if the suspension takes effect on April 13,…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Senate President Chiz Escudero and presidential cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, may soon face plunder cases in connection with the multibillion-peso flood control scandal, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed on Monday, April 6. “The former senate president and the former speaker will be subjected to a case of plunder very soon,” Remulla said in a press briefing, adding that the case may be filed in May.  The ombudsman said the case stems from the alleged conspiracy of Romualdez and Escudero in the budgetary process and the implementation of anomalous flood control projects. Remulla said his office is reviewing the 2024 and 2025 budget process, but investigation may cover up to the previous administration, in particular the term of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco from 2020 to 2022.  “It’s actually the way that the budget was passed upon by the two houses and how many things…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The House justice committee has ordered Ombudsman Boying Remulla to appear at its next hearing on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte to submit records of her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN).  Panel chairperson Jinky Luistro issued a subpoena to Remulla dated March 31, asking him to present certified true copies of Duterte’s SALN from 2007-2013, 2016-2022, and 2022-2025 “to be apprised” of her records from when she was vice mayor in Davao City up to her current position. “You are likewise informed that you have the right to be accompanied by legal counsel during the proceedings, however, such counsel shall be limited to an advisory role and shall not be permitted to speak or otherwise participate in the proceedings,” the subpoena stated. In a press briefing, Remulla said his office will provide the House a copy of Duterte’s SALN. He…