Duterte on inflation: Wala namang administrasyon na hindi dumaan sa inflation

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday downplayed alarms raised regarding the inflation which reached 6.4 percent in August, the highest in nine years.

Upon his arrival at Davao International Airport from Jordan, Duterte told reporters that every administration deals with inflation.

"Wala namang administrasyon na dumaan na walang inflation. Lahat dumaan," he said.

"Itong akin, as you know, believe it or not, this started when America became... panahon ni [President Donald] Trump. Nag-constrict talaga 'yung taxes nila, kinukubra. Nu'ng tinaas nila 'yung rates, sabay tayong lahat," he said.

"When America raised interest eh 'di lahat 'yan nagtaasan," Duterte added.

In his speech before the Filipino community in Jordan on Friday, Duterte said: "'Yang inflation, dahil kay Trump 'yan. 'Yung tariff ban niya on other items."

Meanwhile, the President on Saturday said the rice crisis and inflation are being used by certain people to prepare for something this October.

"They are feeding on that rice tapos itong inflation. 'Yan 'yung ginagamit nila in preparation for this October," he said.

"And with this October, I have to talk to the military. If it will be good for the country, sige, ilabas natin. Anyway they are defending the republic. Can I defend the republic on my own? It is their constitutionally mandated leader. Kung ayaw nilang sumunod, kung ayaw nilang sundin 'yon...," he trailed off.

Communist rebels are reportedly planning to oust Duterte by October, the Armed Forces of the Philippines claimed in July, as it expressed support for the total termination of peace negotiations. —KG, GMA News