Philippine lawmakers seek to hold U.S. to account over energy crisis
Philippine lawmakers on Tuesday sought to hold the United States accountable for an energy crisis that has left the Philippines scrambling to secure oil supplies amid conflict in the Middle East, which is rattling global markets.
Senator Panfilo Lacson said President Donald Trump’s “brinkmanship” had failed and instead worsened a crisis now being felt by vulnerable, oil-importing countries such as the Philippines.
“The Philippines is in crisis along with the rest of the world because President Trump’s brinkmanship did not work. In fact, it has boomeranged,” Lacson said in a post on X. “He should be held to account by the whole world, including his own country, the USA.”
Asked what alternative there had been to Iran, Lacson said the diplomatic option had been lost when Washington did not consult close allies before carrying out its strike.
“The alternative was lost when the US close allies were not consulted before the strike. Past leaders used to do that with your coalition partners,” he said.
At a hearing attended by Cabinet secretaries, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros also called for broader accountability, saying the United States and Israel should be held responsible alongside Iran.
“The US and Israel should also be called into account for what has happened,” Hontiveros said. “I am one with the call of the United Nations that for all of them — all of them — to cease fire and return to diplomacy.”
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said Manila had supported resolutions condemning Iran over the Middle East conflict, although it was not co-sponsoring them.
She added that information from Washington indicated there were ongoing discussions between U.S. and Iranian authorities, even as Iran denied this.
Late on Tuesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency, warning that the conflict had created uncertainty in global energy markets, disrupted supply chains and placed upward pressure on oil prices.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the Philippines had around 45 days of fuel supply based on current consumption and that the government was working to procure 1 million barrels of oil from countries within and outside Southeast Asia to build buffer stocks.
The Philippines is a key ally of the United States, with nine American troop bases scattered around the archipelago.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
