Manila, March 9 -- Malacanang on Sunday (New York time) warned that gasoline stations charging "unreasonable" prices may be meted with sanctions as the government monitors compliance amid the Middle East crisis.

In a media briefing here, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued show-cause orders to 54 gas stations to determine if they have violated government warnings against hiking fuel prices.

"Ngayon po, isinasagawa po ngayon dahil nagka-problema po at marami daw po yatang mga gasoline stations na nagtaas ng presyo (Right now, it is being carried out because there were problems, and apparently many gasoline stations have increased their prices)," Castro said.

"So, nag-issue po ang DOE ng show...