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By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter
President Gloria Arroyo seems out to gain
complete control of the energy sector, opposition Sen. Panfilo
“Ping” Lacson said on Sunday. Lacson cited as an indication the
recent appointment by Malacañang of former Pampanga Rep. Zenaida
Ducut as the new chairman of the Energy Regulatory Commission.
The senator, during a radio interview over dzBB,
noted that persons close to President Arroyo are now in charge of
matters related to energy. He charged that the President seemed to
have a personal interest in controlling the energy sector.
“First, Rep. ‘Mikey’ Arroyo suddenly
became chairman of the House Committee on Energy. Then, after the
retirement of Rodolfo Albano at the [regulatory commission], a
Kapampangan close to the President was appointed to replace him,”
Lacson said. “Mikey” is the eldest son of the President and
represents Pampanga in the 14th Congress.
By “Kapampangan,” the senator was referring
to Ducut. A native of Pampanga province in Central Luzon is called
a “Kapampangan.”
Lacson said he will not stop until he succeeds
in uncovering the real reason behind the alleged monopoly of the
energy sector by persons perceived as close to Malacañang. He also
noted that anybody who controls the sector can also control the huge
supply of coal to the government-owned National Power Corp.
Lacson claimed that the Makati Business Club was
not alone in expressing dismay over the appointment of Ducut, a
friend of the President and a lawyer of suspected jueteng lord Bong
Pineda, also a provincemate of the President.
“I have received information that employees of
the Department of Energy are demoralized over Ducut’s
appointment,” the senator said.
Sen. Richard Gordon said Ducut’s performance
as chairman of the Energy Regulatory Commission should be fully
monitored.
“The [commission] is such a complicated office
to be handled by a former congresswoman with questionable background
in the energy industry,” he added.
Gordon said Ducut must explain her alleged ties
to Bong Pineda. Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio had filed a plunder case
against Pineda, allegedly the biggest jueteng operator in the
country. Jueteng is an illegal numbers game.
Earlier, Sen. Francis Escudero also questioned
Ducut’s credentials to head a sensitive office like the regulatory
commission.
“While I respect the right of President Arroyo
to choose whom to appoint, she should consider only those who are
knowledgeable on the energy industry,” Escudero stressed.
Ducut was chosen over Ateneo law professor
Alberto Agra and former Rep. Alipio Cirilo Badelles of Lanao del
Norte. Badelles was former co-chairman of Sen. Miriam Defensor
Santiago at the Joint Congressional Power Commission, the oversight
body on the implementation of the Electric Power Industry Reform
Act.
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