‘US imperialism’: Anger in Philippines as war with Iran sends oil prices soaring • FRANCE 24

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:02]People pushed to breaking point.

[00:00:06]Rising oil prices have hit the Philippines hard. And for some, there can only be one culprit, Washington.

[00:00:13]This is our symbolic protest against the US imperialism. We want the United States to leave our country immediately.

[00:00:23]The US-Israeli war with Iran has left countries across the region exposed. The Philippines once imported some 98% of its oil from the Middle East.

[00:00:34]In the weeks following the conflict, fuel prices more than doubled. The country was the world's first to declare an energy emergency. It's people like the jeepney drivers of Manila, these public buses here, that have been hit the hardest. Rising oil prices have cut into profit margins. It's left some of them struggling to feed their families.

[00:00:56]For drivers like Edgar, the crisis threatens his livelihood.

[00:01:03]It's difficult because our earnings are very low now due to the high cost of fuel. Before, when fuel was cheap, we used to earn about 1,000 pesos, but now it's not even 500 pesos for the whole day.

[00:01:17]Authorities have pledged cash relief for drivers, but some worry domestic policy alone will not be enough. The main author of this is no other than the Donald Trump. We hope that this uh the Donald Trump will stop all these uh war of aggressions against the the the people OF THE WORLD.

[00:01:37]THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ANNOUNCED LAST month that some 180 million liters of diesel have arrived to buffer the country's fuel supply. As Manila deals with a distant crisis that has tangible consequences at home.