LIVE UPDATES: Conflict in the Middle East (March 17, 2026)

A Filipino couple has earned the respect of netizens for going the extra mile in bringing home their nine pet cats from Qatar to the Philippines.

According to Ian Cruz’s report on “Saksi” on Tuesday, Youscooper Jean Billones-Elmoteib admitted that it was not easy to arrange for the homecoming of her nine cats – Lily, Greta, Snowy, Pineapple, Chiquita, Cocoi, Franky, Chloe, and Hero.

Nangungulila ang isang pamilya sa Pilipinas dahil sa pagkawala ng kanilang padre de pamilya na seafarer makaraang atakihin ng Iran ang sinasakyan nitong tugboat sa Strait of Hormuz. Isa lang siya sa maraming marinong Pinoy na mistulang nasa “war zone” bunga ng patuloy na kaguluhan sa Middle East.

Sa nakaraang episode ng “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” ipinakilala si George Miranda, na magsa-10 taon nang seafarer sa Dubai at isa sa mga naipit sa Strait of Hormuz, na daanan ng mga barko na may kargang langis o grudo na galing sa Middle East.

Amid the Middle East conflict, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday reminded overseas Filipino workers not to post or share videos, photos, and other content on attacks in their respective host countries.

The DMW gave the advice following the arrest of some OFWs in the United Arab Emirates for allegedly uploading videos of recent missile attacks on social media.

The entire world is gearing up to mitigate the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East to the oil supply. 

The Philippine government has implemented several measures in dealing with the crisis.

The Philippine National Police - Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) on Tuesday advised the public to be vigilant against online scams as criminals may take advantage of the rising fuel, travel, and product costs due to the Middle East tensions this Lenten season.

The approved one peso fare hike in all public utility vehicles amid the soaring fuel prices is not enough, said transport group MANIBELA.

MANIBELA president Mar Valbuena jested that those who are begging for alms in jeepneys would earn more than the drivers themselves.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the Philippines currently has no capability to deploy warships to escort oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Teodoro made the statement after United States President Donald Trump called on partner nations to "help secure" the strait amid the tensions in the Middle East.

“Wala tayong capability na mag-escort,” Teodoro told reporters in an ambush interview.

(We don't have the capability to escort.)

The traveling public should brace for costlier airfares in the coming month as the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) adjusted the fuel surcharge level for domestic and international flights amid the oil price shock arising from the Middle East conflict.

In an advisory, the CAB said it is implementing a shorter period of 15 days, from one month, for the fuel surcharge level adjustment as an interim and temporary measure amid high volatility in fuel prices to allow faster response to market changes to cushion is impact and manage increasing costs.

At a press briefing in Cebu, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked about the call of House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza for President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. to declare a state of national emergency so that the government can temporarily take over the oil industry to regulate fuel prices.

Castro said the country is not in that situation, noting that the administration is in control of the situation. 

''Let us refrain from doing activities like fear-mongering. Mas nakakadagdag po ito ng takot sa ating mga kababayan samantalang ang Pangulo po at ang gobyerno ay still in control of the situation,'' Castro said.

(This adds to the fear of the public when the President and the entire government are still in control of the situation.) 

Malacañang said Tuesday it is up to Congress to decide whether there is a need to repeal the Oil Deregulation Law amid the continuing increase in the prices of fuel products. 

At a press briefing in Cebu, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked about Malacañang's position on calls to repeal the law, which liberalizes the oil industry.

''Nasa Kongreso na po 'yan kung ano po ang kanilang nasa saloobin o kung ano ang nakikita nilang maganda para sa ating bansa at kung maipapakita nila o maiimpluwensyahan nila sa pamamagitan ng kanilang pagbalangkas ng batas ang ating Pangulo, lahat po ng ikagaganda ng bansa, hindi naman po ito tututulan ng Pangulo,'' Castro said.

(It's up to Congress to decide on the measures which they think can best addressed the country's concerns. If they can influence the President in crafting this measure, the President will not oppose to it especially if it's for the welfare of the country.)