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Jean Mangaluz - Philstar.com
April 1, 2026 | 2:33pm
US President Donald Trump participates in a multilateral lunch with visiting African Leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 9, 2025.
AFP / Jim Watson
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said the world should "pray" to survive US President Donald Trump, as global tensions push oil prices higher.
Lacson made the remark Wednesday, April 1, in a post on X, drawing a comparison to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Only a few years ago, we outlived the coronavirus, also known as Covid-19. Pray that the world will survive Trump-26," he said.
The statement comes as the world reels from the effects of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The war—deemed illegal and unprovoked—continues to disrupt global oil supply, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for crude.
The resulting supply concerns have driven up fuel prices worldwide, including in the Philippines, where pump prices have breached P100 per liter.
Lacson said the situation has worsened economic conditions for Filipinos. He criticized what he described as Trump's "whimsical arrogance in treating even the US' long time allies."
Confronted with condemnations on the war he ordered, Trump told oil-importing countries to "get your own oil" from Hormuz.
Prior criticism
Lacson had earlier denounced the US president's actions, saying global conditions had deteriorated due to his leadership.
"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 previous statement.
He also described the situation as a result of the "narcissistic arrogance of one 'leader of the free world.'"
Oil supply disruptions have led to higher fuel costs, adding pressure on inflation.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has projected inflation could rise to as high as 3.9% in March, up from 2.4% in February, largely driven by higher oil prices.
