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Plane carrying Duterte to ICC heads to Rotterdam; VP flies to Amsterdam

PCOO

A PLANE carrying former Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) took off for Rotterdam after being delayed by a few hours during a layover in Dubai, a source told Reuters on Wednesday.

Duterte, who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, was arrested early on Tuesday in Manila, marking the biggest step yet in the ICC’s probe into alleged crimes against humanity during an anti-illegal drug crackdown that killed thousands and drew condemnation around the world.

The plane had originally been set to land at Rotterdam Airport around 6 a.m. GMT, but tracking service Flightradar 24 showed it was delayed after a layover in Dubai and should now arrive around 4:25 p.m. GMT.

A source at the ICC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the plane had taken off.

About 20 anti-Duterte protesters gathered outside the court in The Hague with banners and a mask depicting him as a vampire.

Duterte received medical attention during the layover in Dubai, according to ABS-CBN News, which showed on its website photos of what it said were police doctors checking on the tough-talking leader as he lay on an airplane bed.

A spokesperson for the Philippine National Police said the medical checks were routine “regular vital signs and monitoring.”

His daughter Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte boarded a morning flight to Amsterdam, her office said in a statement, but it did not say what she intended to do there or how long she planned to stay in the Netherlands.

The ICC’s press office declined to comment. One of Mr. Duterte’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Officials in Dubai also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Duterte, 79, could become the first Asian former head of state to go on trial at the ICC.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. told a press conference on Tuesday night that the plane carrying his predecessor was en route to The Hague, saying that would allow the former President “to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs.”

The war on drugs was the signature campaign platform that swept the mercurial Mr. Duterte to power in 2016. During his six years in office, 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations, by the police’s count.

Activists say the real toll was far greater, with many thousands more slum drug users gunned down in mysterious circumstances, some of whom were on community “watch lists” after they signed up for treatment.

Silvestre H. Bello III, a former Labor secretary and one of the ex-president’s lawyers, said a legal team would meet to assess options and seek clarity on where Mr. Duterte would be taken and whether they would be granted access to him.

NO TRO
Also on Wednesday, the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) rejected a plea by Senator Ronald M. Dela Rosa — Mr. Duterte’s national police chief who enforced the drug war — to stop the Marcos government from cooperating with the ICC probe.

“After a virtual deliberation on the 94-page petition, the SC found that the petitioners failed to establish a clear and unmistakable right for the immediate issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO),” it said in a statement.

The High Court gave the respondents — Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla, Jr. and National Police Chief Rommel Francisco D. Marbil — 10 days to comment on the lawsuit.

“If all legal remedies are exhausted and still justice is to no avail, then I don’t want my family to suffer from cops looking for a heartbeat,” Mr. Dela Rosa told reporters in a Viber message. “I am ready to join the old man hoping that they would allow me to take care of him.”

He said he was in the mountains of Surigao and Agusan, even as he denied having gone into hiding. “I’m ready to submit myself to the authorities.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Duterte’s son and daughter filed separate petitions at the Supreme Court seeking the tough-talking leader’s release.

In a 32-page habeas corpus petition, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte sought his father’s “unconditional release,” saying he was being illegally detained over an unverified and “unenforceable” ICC arrest warrant.

The writ of habeas corpus is a legal remedy against illegal detention and compels a public official to justify the detention.

“The attempt to subject a Filipino citizen — particularly a former head of state — to foreign jurisdiction without due process under Philippine law constitutes an unprecedented assault on national independence and self-determination,” he said in the pleading.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Clarissa A. Castro said the case might already be moot since Mr. Duterte is already out of the country.

“He was still treated as a Filipino and as a former President,” she told a news briefing. “He was accompanied by a complete team including doctors, nurses and his lawyers. So, it is not true that he was not given proper attention, especially regarding his medical needs.”

Mr. Duterte’s daughter Veronica also asked the Philippine tribunal through Salvador S. Panelo, his father’s lawyer, to order his release.

The court said both pleadings would be raffled.

“It is not within our laws to determine whether President Duterte should be held accountable under the ICC,” Mr. Panelo told reporters after filing the lawsuit, based on a video sent via Viber.

“In fact, we cited in our petition the statements of our government to the ICC, asserting that they have no jurisdiction over us because our legal system in the Philippines is thriving.”

“Now that Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested on an ICC warrant sans any form of resistance from the current administration, we can expect the full force of international law to be applied on his case,” Edwin S. Estrada, who teaches international relations at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance, said in a Viber message.

“The trial validates the country’s respect for the rule of law but critics against the ICC trial could see the case as tarnishing the Philippines’ sovereignty and independence from foreign influence particularly the West,” he added. — John Victor D. Ordoñez with Reuters

Congressmen ask Marcos government to rejoin ICC

PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. — PHILIPPINE STAR/NOEL PABALATE

THE PHILIPPINES should rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC) to ensure accountability for its leaders, congressmen said on Wednesday, a day after ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte was arrested to stand trial before the Hague-based tribunal for crimes against humanity.

“We should really consider rejoining,” Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V said in a news briefing. “In case these kinds of problems happen again, we have a tool or a measuring stick.”

Mr. Duterte, 79, unilaterally withdrew the Philippines from the ICC’s founding treaty in 2019 when it started looking into allegations of systematic extrajudicial killings in connection with anti-illegal drug campaign.

He was flown by Philippine authorities to the Netherlands after the ICC ordered his arrest as part of its investigation of his bloody drug war that killed thousands.

Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo D. Bongalon said Mr. Duterte’s decision to pull away from the ICC was a “belated reaction” to its investigation into his bloody drug war, which led to 6,200 suspects being killed during anti-drug operations that they say ended in shootouts.

Human rights groups have said as many as 30,000 people might have died.

Rejoining the International Criminal Court would protect Filipinos, Mr. Bongalon said, adding that the government has a responsibility to safeguard its citizens.

“It’s for the protection of the people,” he told the same briefing. “And the state should… give protection to our people. One way of doing this is for us to rejoin the Rome Statute,” he said, referring to the treaty that established the ICC.

“If there is that initiative on the part of the administration, I would support it,” Assistant Majority Leader and Party-list Rep. Jude A. Acidre told the briefing, but noted that it would ultimately be up to the Senate to decide.

“The Senate is responsible for concurring with the treaties we accede to.”

The 1987 Philippine Constitution states that international agreements are not binding unless approved by at least two-thirds of the Senate.

The Senate ratified Philippine membership in the ICC in August 2011. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Energy bodies urged to get backup electricity for midterm elections

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE PHILIPPINE government should prevent power interruptions from disrupting this year’s midterm elections by preparing for higher electricity demand during the summer months, an energy advocacy group said on Tuesday.

The Energy department and other related agencies should ensure the country’s grid remains well-maintained and secure sufficient backup electricity sources to avoid disruptions on election day, Nic Satur, Jr., chief advocate officer for Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy, said in a statement.

“We can’t have power going out in the middle of the elections because that puts their integrity and credibility at risk,” he added.

The Philippines will hold midterm elections in May, when temperatures are expected to reach about 40°C, according to the state weather bureau.

Power disruptions during the summer months remain a problem for the Southeast Asian nation due to high heat and increased electricity demand, according to a 2024 Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities report.

The Philippines was placed under 16 red alerts and 62 yellow alerts last year, leading to nationwide rotational power brownout due to thinning supplies.

The Philippine island of Luzon was placed under a yellow warning last week, the first this year, due to slimming margins between available power supply and demand.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said peak demand hit 11,829 megawatts (MW) against available capacity of 12,488 MW, according to its advisory.

“The March 5, 2025 Luzon yellow alert is more than just an energy issue; it’s a warning that power disruptions could sabotage the midterm elections,” Mr. Satur said.

Having continuous yellow and red alerts could lead to brownouts that could disrupt electronic voting and transmission, he added.

He urged electric cooperatives to check their grid infrastructure and ensure they have enough backup power on election day.

The Department of Energy (DoE) in February activated a task force meant to ensure “smooth and credible elections” without power disruptions. Filipinos will pick more than 300 congressmen, 12 senators and thousands of local posts on May 12.

The so-called Energy Task Force Election would operate a centralized command and monitoring hub on election day to “address potential power issues in real time,” while conducting inspections of power facilities to fix possible grid issues, the DoE said in a statement posted on its website. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Anti-graft court overturns engineers’ graft conviction over 2004 Tacloban road project

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE PHILIPPINES’ anti-graft court has overturned the guilty verdict of government engineers accused of falsifying documents in connection with a Tacloban road project in 2004, citing weak evidence against them.

In a 15-page decision, dated March 11, the Sandiganbayan Second Division said that state prosecutors failed to provide compelling evidence against the Public Works department personnel.

State prosecutors charged the government engineers and a private individual with falsification of public documents and graft, stemming from the rehabilitation of a Tacloban road in 2004.

In 2024, the respondents were accused of conniving to declare the project 100% accomplished even when it is only 16.04% completed. The respondents allegedly falsified a document that made it appear the payment has been disbursed to the contractor, noting the accused were well aware they lacked the complete and proper documents.   

The Tacloban court meted out a total maximum prison sentence of 14 years and was ordered to pay back the state P3.34 million worth of alleged damages to the government.

“The court a quo should have not relied on the findings based on the Inspection Report, whose author expressly admitted the uncertainty of what he observed as compared to with what the contract pertaining to the road project,” the ruling, penned by Associate Justice Edgardo M. Caldona, stated.

The Sandiganbayan ruled that prosecutors failed to present evidence aside from the cited inspection report, which did not sufficiently substantiate the charge of document falsification.

“There was no falsification of the SWA (Statement of Work Accomplished) committed… contrary to the findings of the court a quo who merely relied on the Inspection Report which, as it turned out, was not squarely based on the application provisions… it cited,” the ruling said.

The anti-graft court added that the failure of the prosecution to prove the accused’s falsification of documents weakened their argument for graft, entitling them an acquittal and reversal of the initial Tacloban court’s decision. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

NBI files new cases vs Bamban mayor

DISMISSED Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo. — PHILIPPINE STAR/JESSE BUSTOS

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday filed graft, falsification of documents, and human trafficking complaints against dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice L. Guo and 38 of her cohorts for their involvement in illegally acquiring real estate properties in Pangasinan.

Ms. Guo was being accused of lying about being a Filipino citizen when she bought three large properties in Sual, Pangasinan, NBI spokesman Ferdinand M. Lavin told reporters after filing the complaints.

“In the acquisition of these properties, Alice Guo said that she is a Filipino citizen when in fact we were able to establish that she is not Alice Guo but that she is she is Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese citizen,” he said based on a voice recording sent to reporters via Viber, referring to the former mayor’s supposed Chinese identity. A copy of the complaints has yet to be released to the media. 

The NBI official said the agency also filed human trafficking and gross misconduct complaints against 11 employees of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR) for failing to monitor a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Bamban Tarlac.

“They should have monitored it. They are the ones in charge of the day-to-day operations. But they allowed the operation of scamming activities on top of the POGO operations,” Mr. Lavin said, citing witness testimonies from rescued POGO workers.

Ms. Guo and her cohorts fled the country in July. She had reportedly traveled to Malaysia and Singapore, then to Indonesia a month later using her Philippine passport, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.

She has been accused of coddling illegal POGOs in Bamban town in Tarlac, where she ran and won for the first time as mayor in 2022.  Raided by authorities in March, an illegal hub on land she partially owned had been linked to scamming operations.

The dismissed mayor was arrested in Jakarta on Sept. 4 last year after fleeing the country via a yacht amid a Senate arrest order and human trafficking complaints against her. The former mayor has denied these allegations and insists that she is a Filipino citizen.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. last year issued an executive order formalizing his verbal order to shut down POGOs by the end of 2024. It included provisions calling for a stop on POGO activities, blocking new applications for legal online casinos and putting a halt to license renewals. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Chiz: Duterte arrest not a poll issue

PCOO

SENATE PRESIDENT Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero on Wednesday called on candidates of the midterm national and local elections to avoid using the recent arrest of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte as a campaign issue.

“I call on those running in the midterm elections to refrain from using this issue to fan the flames of partisanship in order to further their candidacies as this is a serious issue that involves lives and should not be trifled with for petty personal or political gain,” Mr. Escudero said in a statement.

Local authorities arrested the former president on Tuesday following the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

He was served the arrest warrant upon his arrivals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after a Partido Demokratiko Pilipino event with overseas Filipinos in Hong Kong.

The former president was flown from a chartered jet bound for The Hague in the Netherlands, on Tuesday evening, after being detained at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay.

The senate chief also urged citizens to “approach this moment with the restraint and respect.”

He said that he expects that the ICC to respect the right of Mr. Duterte and ensure that “he is afforded due process in accordance with the Rule of Law.” 

“This development will undoubtedly elicit diverse reactions shaped by differing perspectives on the allegations against the former president, from the families of victims of extra-judicial killings to his loyal supporters,” Mr. Escudero added.

The ICC has been investigating Mr. Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity that he committed when he was still the mayor of Davao City and for the first three years of his presidency, when the Philippines was still a member of the international tribunal.

In 2019, the Philippines withdrew from the ICC’s Rome Statute after it had started to investigate allegations of systematic extrajudicial killings. — Adrian H. Halili

PHL eyeing labor deal with Sweden

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE PHILIPPINES is looking to forge a labor agreement with Sweden for the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) located in the European country, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac met with Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary and Ambassador-Designate of the Philippines to Sweden Patrick A. Chuasoto to discuss plans to promote “the rights and welfare of Filipino workers in Sweden.”

“Both officials expressed optimism about the future support and protection of OFWs in Sweden with the possibility of forging a bilateral agreement that promotes regular, ethical, orderly, and sustainable migration of OFWs,” the agency said.

It added that the Philippines is also looking to establish a Migrant Workers Office in Sweden.

The DMW said that it has no existing bilateral labor agreement with Sweden, to date.

Mr. Chuasoto lauded the agency’s efforts to upskill Filipino workers in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. — Adrian H. Halili

Benguet dengue cases up to 316

Public Health Image Library/US Centers Disease for Control and Prevention

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The Benguet Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported it has logged 316 cases of dengue infection in the first quarter of 2025, a 17% hike compared to the same period last year.

The capital town of La Trinidad had the highest number with 68, followed by Tublay with 47 and Kapangan with 43 infections. No dengue-related deaths have so far been reported.

The PHO also noted that most of the patients are children, aged five to nine years old.

Benguet Provincial Health Officer Meliarazon F. Dulay stressed that the people should seriously continue the 4 p.m. habit or the “Alas Kuwatro Kontra Mosquito,” which involves turning items that could potentially be a breeding site for mosquitoes upside down. Containers that can hold water will be poured, dried, or covered with a lid.

Ms. Dulay urged the public to be alert in cases that where are symptoms of dengue infections. She said they should seek immediate consultation and build strong resistance by observing healthy living and sanitation. — Artemio A. Dumlao

5 terrorists surrender to Army

COTABATO CITY — Five more local terrorists, including two experts in fabrication of improvised explosive devices, surrendered to the Army in Maguindanao del Sur on Monday.

The five gunmen are members of the now decimated Dawlah Islamiya that had a reputation for extorting money from transportation companies and business establishments and tagged in all deadly bombings in Central Mindanao since 2014, along with its ally, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Both groups are also known for fomenting deep hatred for non-Muslims that members of Mindanao’s Islamic religious community dismiss as sinful and absolutely against their religion’s teachings on tolerance and interfaith solidarity.

Army Major Gen. Donald M. Gumiran, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told reporters on Wednesday that the five gunmen agreed to surrender through the intercession of Brig. Gen. Edgar L. Catu of the 601st Infantry Brigade, officials of the 90th Infantry Battalion (IB) and local executives in Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao del Sur and nearby towns in the province.

The group turned in their improvised explosive devices, an M1 garand rifle, a bolt action 7.62-millimeter sniper rifle, an M16 assault rifle and a 5.56 M4 rifle before they pledged allegiance to the government in the presence of local leaders and Muslim preachers during a symbolic surrender rite at the headquarters of the 90th IB in Barangay Kabengi in Datu Saudi Ampatuan.

The local government unit of Datu Saudi Ampatuan distributed to each of them rice and other relief supplies and cash incentives that they can spend for their initial needs while undergoing religious reorientation by Islamic theologians. — John Felix M. Unson

Drug dealers nabbed in Ilocos Sur

BAGUIO CITY — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives in Ilocos Sur aided by local policemen caught an alleged “resurgent” drug trader in San Esteban town before midnight Tuesday.

PDEA-Region 1 Director Joel B. Plaza said the suspect was cornered after he sold two pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected crystal meth (shabu) that weighed more or less two grams, worth P13,600, to undercover government agents.

Aside from the shabu, operatives also seized a glass tooter and a fan knife. Authorities also seized the buy-bust money, among other non-drug evidence against him, added Mr. Plaza.

The arrested drug trader earlier surrendered and promised to reform.

Meanwhile, another “resurgent” drug dealer was caught by PDEA-La Union operatives and local policemen in Caba town in La Union.

PDEA agents confiscated 10 pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu weighing more or less one gram, worth P6,800, from the dealer.

Also seized were a homemade shotgun, two live ammunitions for caliber 12-gauge shotgun, one cigarette pack, and an opened transparent plastic sachet during the sting at around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Both were separately taken to a PDEA provincial jail facility in Ilocos Sur and in La Union for processing before they are formally sued for illegal drug charges. — Artemio A. Dumlao

PHL shares slip as Trump tariff concerns weigh

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

PHILIPPINE SHARES slipped further on Wednesday as losses on Wall Street due to the Trump administration’s trade policies spilled over to the domestic market.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) shed 0.18% or 11.29 points to end at 6,195.26 on Wednesday, while the broader all shares index inched down by 0.07% or 2.79 points to 3,681.80.

“The market fell further as investors took cues from Wall Street’s fall, driven by recession fears and cautious trading ahead of the release of the US inflation report,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message.

“The market slipped anew on continued concerns about Trump’s erratic trade policy and a potential slowdown in the US economy,” China Bank Capital Corp. Managing Director Juan Paolo E. Colet said in a Viber message.

Wall Street closed lower on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average index fell by 1.14% or 478.23 points to 41,433.48; the S&P 500 index sank by 0.76% or 42.49 points to 5,572.07; and the Nasdaq Composite index lost 0.18% or 32.22 points to end at 17,436.10.

US President Donald J. Trump’s increased tariffs on all US steel and aluminum imports took effect on Wednesday, stepping up a campaign to reorder global trade in favor of the US and drawing swift retaliation from Europe, Reuters reported.

Mr. Trump’s action to bulk up protections for American steel and aluminum producers restores effective global tariffs of 25% on all imports of the metals.

Mr. Trump’s hyper-focus on tariffs since taking office in January has rattled investor, consumer and business confidence in ways that economists worry could cause a US recession and further lag on the global economy.

Mr. Trump initially threatened Canada with doubling the duty to 50% on its steel and aluminum exports to the US but backed off after Ontario province suspended a move to impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the states of Minnesota, Michigan and New York.

Meanwhile, February US consumer price index data were set to be released overnight.

Sectoral indices ended mixed on Wednesday. Services declined by 1.26% or 25.62 points to 2,006.06; mining and oil retreated by 0.8% or 70.36 points to 8,669.05; and financials went down by 0.63% or 15.04 points to 2,345.06.

Meanwhile, property increased by 1.24% or 27.41 points to 2,231.3; industrials climbed by 0.44% or 38.73 points to 8,730.86; and holding firms rose by 0.07% or 3.7 points to 5,202.69.

Value turnover declined to P5.98 billion on Wednesday with 741.54 million issues traded from the P7.71 billion with 753.65 million shares exchanged on Tuesday.

Decliners outnumbered advancers, 127 versus 77, while 40 names were unchanged.

Net foreign buying stood at P2.62 million on Wednesday versus the P350.28 million in net selling recorded on Tuesday. — R.M.D. Ochave with Reuters

Peso drops vs dollar before US inflation report

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO weakened anew against dollar on Wednesday on market caution ahead of the February US consumer price index (CPI) data set to be released overnight, which could affect the US Federal Reserve’s policy actions.

The local unit closed at P57.36 per dollar on Wednesday, shedding 13.5 centavos from its P57.225 finish on Tuesday, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.

The peso opened Wednesday’s trading session weaker at P57.30 against the dollar. Its worst showing was at P57.395, while its intraday best was at P57.29 versus the greenback.

Dollars exchanged declined to $1.16 billion from $1.38 billion on Tuesday.

“The peso closed lower on a broad dollar rebound in anticipation of the US CPI release tonight, which is expected to be lower year on year, But some players in the market see it as still elevated, which may be reason for the Fed not to cut yet,” a trader said in a phone interview on Wednesday.

The dollar rose slightly amid more developments in the Trump administration’s tariff policies, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

For Thursday, the trader expects the peso to move between P57 and P57.50 per dollar, while Mr. Ricafort sees it ranging from P57.20 to P57.40.

The dollar struggled on Wednesday to lift off a five-month low against major peers, as worries about the US economy simmered in view of President Donald J. Trump’s unpredictable trade policies, Reuters reported.

The euro hovered around a five-month peak on increased optimism for an end to the war in Ukraine.

The Canadian dollar was steady after a volatile session on Tuesday, when Mr. Trump pledged to double tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50%, only to reverse course just hours later.

The US dollar index which measures the currency against a basket of six major peers, edged up 0.08% to 103.53 in Asian trading hours, following Tuesday’s slide of 0.46% that took it as low as 103.21 for the first time since Oct. 16.

A run of softer US economic data continued on Tuesday with small-business confidence dropping for a third straight month in February.

Investors have been on edge since Mr. Trump avoided ruling out the possibility that a recession would result from his trade policies in an interview on Sunday with Fox News.

Wednesday’s CPI report may be setting the market up for “a lose-lose situation”, said Julien Lafargue, chief market strategist at Barclays Private Bank.

“A higher-than-expected reading could fuel the stagflation narrative while a weaker-than-expected print could cement recession fears. What the market really needs at this point is better visibility on growth rather than on inflation.” — A.M.C. Sy with Reuters

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