VP Sara slams gov’t ‘lack of preparation’ for Middle East conflict fallout

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday criticized the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for what she described as a lack of preparation for the possible impacts of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Speaking in an ambush interview in Davao City, Duterte said warnings about a potential war had already been circulating years earlier.

“Wala tayong nakikita na ginagawa ng administrasyon. Ang banta ng gyera narinig na natin iyan noong taong 2022 pa lang,” she said.

(We have not seen anything being done by the administration. We already heard about the threat of war as early as 2022.)

She added that several observers, including foreign governments, had previously warned about a possible conflict.

“Nakita na natin yan sa lahat ng mga believers, lalong lalo na yung mga galing sa mga foreign governments na meron silang tinitignan na possible gyera ng taon na 2025.”

(We have seen that among many believers, especially those from foreign governments, they were already looking at the possibility of a war in 2025.)

According to Duterte, the government should have started preparing as early as 2022.

“Dapat noong 2022 pa lang naghanda na ang pamahalaan na ito pero wala tayong nakitang paghahanda,” Duterte noted. 

(As early as 2022, this government should have prepared, but we did not see any preparations.)

She added that she has yet to see solutions from the administration to address problems that may arise from the conflict.

GMA Integrated News has sought the reaction of the Palace and will post it as soon as available.

The conflict has sent prices of fuel products soaring to their highest levels, prompting the government to implement a four-day workweek in public offices.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also ordered all government agencies to reduce their fuel and electricity consumption by 10 to 20 percent, while police have warned against hoarding as queues were seen forming at some petrol stations.

The government is also continuing the repatriation of Filipinos living in the affected Middle East countries.

Marcos also recently ordered the immediate distribution of P5,000 fuel subsidy for public transport drivers affected by the oil price hike due to the tension in the Middle East.

Flood control accountability

Duterte also raised concerns about the lack of accountability in an alleged massive corruption controversy involving flood control projects.

“Magiisang taon na rin iyan simula noong sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos na ‘Mahiya naman kayo.’ Magiisang taon na yan, hanggang ngayon wala pa ring nananagot sa flood control,” she said.

(It has almost been a year since President Marcos said “Have some shame.” It has been nearly a year and until now no one has been held accountable over the flood control issue.)

She added that the unresolved controversy raises doubts about the administration’s seriousness in addressing corruption.

“Kung mag-iisang taon na itong corruption scandal na ito, walang nananagot at walang sinseridad ang administrasyon na imbestigahan at ipakulong lahat ng involved sa scandal na yan.”

(If this corruption scandal has been going on for nearly a year and no one is being held accountable, and there is no sincerity from the administration to investigate and jail those involved.)

According to the vice president, the lack of accountability in the flood control controversy reflects how the government may respond to potential problems arising from the Middle East conflict.

“Makikita din natin na wala silang gagawin dito sa problema na darating dahil sa gyera sa Middle East,” she added.

(We can also see that they will not do anything about the problems that will come because of the war in the Middle East.)

The United States and Israel on February 28 conducted air strikes against Iran, including its capital, Tehran. 

The attacks led to the death of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family. In the ensuing days, hundreds of Iranians have also been killed in subsequent strikes, including dozens of children at a girls' school.

The US also struck an Iranian warship that was docked in Sri Lanka after participating in drills with India. The attack killed 87 sailors and dramatically widened the scope of the US and Israel's attacks on Iranians.

US President Donald Trump has justified the biggest US military operation in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq by saying Tehran posed an imminent threat to the United States, without providing evidence. He has also said Iran was too close to being able to build a nuclear weapon. —LDF, GMA Integrated News