Abbey M.

The mass repatriation of Filipinos caught in the ongoing unrest in the Middle East has begun, Malacañang announced.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed that some Filipinos have started crossing the border from Israel. The government has also coordinated with Emirates Airlines for several commercial flights, and the return of Filipinos in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is scheduled for March 14.

"The operation will be funded by the emergency repatriation fund of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration or OWWA. From the UAE, we are currently finalizing the flight arrangements," Usec. Castro said.

The United States government is set to lift oil-related sanctions on select oil-producing countries to keep energy prices low as the war between the US and Israel against Iran continues.

President Donald Trump announced the move following a sharp spike in crude oil prices over the past 24 hours, with prices surging to between $90 and $120 per barrel.

"We're also waiving certain oil-related sanctions to reduce prices. We have sanctions on some countries, but we're taking those sanctions off until this straightens out. Then, who knows, maybe we won't have to put them back on — there will be so much peace," Trump said.

Among the countries currently subject to US oil sanctions are Russia, Serbia, and Venezuela. Reports indicate the US may lift sanctions on Russian oil to ease supply for countries heavily dependent on it, such as India.

Trump also defended the broader strategic value of the military campaign, saying long-term oil security would improve with the removal of Iranian threats.

"In the long run, oil supplies will be dramatically more secure without the threat of Iranian ships, drones, missiles, nuclear menace, or anything," he said.

Alongside the planned sanction waivers, Trump warned that US forces would strike any Iranian forces attempting to block oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Reports indicate that several tankers continue to transit the strait but are switching off their AIS transponders before entering the shipping lane and turning them back on upon exit. Iran has also stated that only Chinese oil tankers are permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and that any country aiding the US and Israel would be denied passage.

Trump pledged to ensure safe passage through the strait for the duration of the conflict.

"The Strait of Hormuz is going to remain safe. We have a lot of Navy ships there," the US president said.

Trump also expressed confidence that the fighting in the Middle East would be short-lived, citing what he described as the weakening of Iranian forces.

"We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil. And I think you'll see it's going to be a short-term excursion. How good is our military right?" Trump said.

Finance ministers of the Group of Seven, or G7, convened to address the energy crisis stemming from the ongoing unrest in the Middle East. 

Among the key options placed on the table was the release of strategic oil reserves to stabilize global markets. 

The group said it would examine developments in the Gulf from an economic perspective.

While no agreement has been reached, G7 countries assured that there is currently no indication that tapping into their emergency oil stocks is necessary amid the crisis.

United States President Donald Trump said the American military operation dubbed "Epic Fury" is projected to last four to five weeks, with the possibility of extending further if necessary.

The operation aims to halt the development of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and dismantle its capabilities, which the US considers a threat to its security and that of its allies.

Trump said his administration had planned for this timeline from the start. 

"Whatever it takes — we projected four to five weeks, but we have the capability to go far longer than that," he said.

The US president described the strikes as a long-planned strategic decision, calling it the last window to act against the Iranian regime. 

"This was our last best chance to strike and eliminate the intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime," Trump said.

He outlined the key objectives of the operation, which include destroying Iran's missile capabilities, cutting off its support for militant groups, and ensuring it cannot develop a nuclear weapon. 

"Our objectives are clear. First, we're destroying Iran's missile capabilities," he said.

Trump also acknowledged that American service personnel have been killed in the course of the operation. Despite this, he said the United States is resolved to press on. 

"In their memory, we continue this mission with ferocious, unyielding resolve to crush the threat this terrorist regime poses to the American people," the US president said.

Vice President Sara Duterte filed a perjury complaint today against Ramil Madriaga, the man who allegedly identified himself as her bagman.

The filing comes after Madriaga claimed in an affidavit submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman that he had delivered large sums of money to various individuals under Duterte’s instructions, a claim the Vice President strongly denied.

In an official statement, the Vice President said she wants to hold Madriaga accountable for his lies. 

Duterte stressed that she will not allow fabricated stories to be used to deceive the public.