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CEASEFIRE, REOPENING OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ AMONG ‘BEST NEWS’ WE COULD HOPE FOR – PRESIDENT MARCOS

admin June 17, 2026

“WE hope, we pray that this is the case, that it is over, the war is over, and it will be a lasting peace.”

Thus President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday as he welcomed reports of a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran that could end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, describing the development as some of the best news that we could hope for if it is successfully finalized and implemented.

Speaking during the Joint Press Conference with German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Malacañang, President Marcos said both the Philippines and Germany anticipate the finalization of the ceasefire agreement, which could hopefully bring lasting peace.

“We await with bated breath the actual finalization of that agreement. Again, it is some of the best news that we could hope for if indeed it comes to fruition. That is what we are looking forward to,” the President said.

According to President Marcos, the conflict has caused widespread economic disruption, affecting countries around the world regardless of their geographic distance from the war zone. The President pointed out that the Philippines and Germany have felt the impact of the crisis, making life difficult for the people.

“Because of the enormity of the problem, of the instability that this war has caused – it’s inevitable that it will take some time for us to adjust back to what will be the new normal,” the President said.

The President added that he had heard in the news that the ceasefire agreement would help immediately stop the fighting, lead to the lifting of the US blockade, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping – developments he said he had been hoping for since the day after the war started.

President Marcos also hoped that the proclamations would finally come true, so that affected countries may start bringing their economies to a normal state and be able to support their people properly without suffering from the vagaries of price increases that come with the petroleum crisis.