Iran targets world’s energy supplies as Mideast war enters third week EXPLOSIONS rocked cities across the Middle East on Saturday as the US embassy in Baghdad was hit by a drone strike and Tehran warned Emiratis to stay away from ports as it targets the world’s energy supply lines. Washington’s embassy in Iraq was hit for the second time since February 28, when the United States and Israel attacked Iran and plunged the Gulf into a conflict that has sent shockwaves through the global economy. Waves of drone, missile and aerial bombing have displaced millions in the
20 .00
IN METR
MANILAO
VOL. XL • NO. 33 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES MARCH 15, 2026
region and reportedly killed more than 1,200 people in Iran. Despite facing superior US and Israeli firepower, Iran appears determined to fight on, launching missile and drone attacks against at least 10 of its neighbors and effectively barring the choke point Strait of Hormuz to sea traffic. Iran had threatened US-linked oil and energy firms would “immediately be destroyed and turned into a pile of ashes” if the US struck its oil facilities, according to Iranian media.
www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Turn to A4
Suspension of fuel excise tax likely within 2 weeks Bill removes 3-month waiting period for immediate relief—solon FUEL FACILITIES TARGETED.
Smoke rises from the direction of an energy installation in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in what appeared to be the latest strike targeting the Gulf’s petroleum facilities. AFP
Subpoenas eyed on VP, husband’s tax and business records – Ridon By Maricel V. Cruz LAWMAKERS may seek subpoenas for the income tax returns and business records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, House Committee on Public Accounts chairperson Terry Ridon on Saturday said. He said this was to explain what he described as an allegedly roughly P50-million gap between the Vice President’s cumulative government salary and her declared net worth. Ridon, a lawyer and member of the House Committee on Justice, raised the issue during a media forum while discussing possible financial records that may be sought by the House Committee on Justice as it continues processing the two remaining impeachment complaints against Duterte. Turn to A4
PH to cooperate in US probe into forced-labor goods By Charles Dantes
By Maricel V. Cruz, Othel Campos and Joel Zurbano
T
HE public can expect relief from rising fuel prices by around P6 to P10 per liter within the next two weeks with Congress poised to pass a measure allowing the President to suspend or slash excise tax of petroleum products, House Committee on Public Accounts chairman Terry Ridon said.
Ridon said the House of Representatives is almost done with the bill, which is expected to be
time…As big as P10 per liter can profiteers and be shaved hoarders—DTI off the price of petroleum products after the excise taxes have been suspended. So, this is a big thing and hopefully within the next two weeks our countrymen will be able to benefit from this intervention,” he said. “Giving power to our President to reduce, suspend, remove excise taxes on petroleum products
l Gov’t to sanction
passed by the Senate by the end of next week. “Approval is just a matter of
is unprecedented. It has not been done even in the past because last time there was still a three-month grace period to remove, suspend excise taxes on petroleum products,” Ridon added. The lawmaker was referring to the provision of the existing law allowing presidential intervention only if the three-month average of crude prices exceeds $80 per barrel. This waiting period was removed in the pending bill, Ridon said.
Turn to A4
THE Philippines will monitor and cooperate in the United States’ investigation into Manila’s alleged failure to ban the import of goods produced through forced labor, Malacañang said on Saturday. This came after the US Trade Representative (USTR) launched a probe under Section 301 (b) of the US Trade Act of 1974 to determine whether the Philippines and 50 other trading partners have effectively banned the import of goods produced using forced labor. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Philippines takes note of Washington’s ongoing investigation. “We will closely monitor and actively participate in the investigation to address the concerns of the United States,” Castro said. Turn to A4
Lacson: CA member asked for projects in exchange for Bonoan confirmation By Joel Zurbano and Rolando Ng III THE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is investigating a list of flood control and other infrastructure projects allegedly proposed by a member of Commission on Appointments in exchange for the confirmation of then DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan in late 2022. Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the committee, made the announcement on Saturday, saying the information surfaced while he and his staff continue to inspect suspected anomalous flood control projects in other parts of the country.
“We received information that during a CA hearing for Bonoan’s confirmation as DPWH secretary, the confirmation process was used for such a transaction,”he said in a radio interview. The information, he added, came from former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo. Lacson also said he is validating the information from Bernardo that the one who made the“request”to Bonoan was from the House of Representatives panel at the time. The senator said his team continues to check flood control projects including those in Metro Manila – including one where the flooding situation got
Hamas urges Iran: Don’t hit neighbors
Pinoy runner defies odds at Cyprus race
WORLD / A4
SPORTS / B3
worse after a pumping station was built there. “If the project turns out to be substandard or ghost, that would mean new recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Committee for the proper agencies to build cases against those involved,” he said. As this developed, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is determined to resolve all anomalous flood control projects, including filing of cases against erring government officials before the Office of the Ombudsman. Turn to A4
Baguio temperature dips to 9°C due to ‘amihan’ NEWS / A3
manilastandard.net
@ManilaStandardPH
@mnlstandardph
@manilastandard
BACK HOME. The remains of Filipina caregiver Mary Ann de Vera, who was killed in a missile attack in Israel, have arrived in the Philippines, the Department of Migrant Workers on Saturday said. DMW Facebook page
@ManilaStandardYT
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net •09173382170 / 85646229