A lawmaker over the weekend sought a congressional inquiry into alleged violations of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) of its mandate under Republic Act 9400 in connection with the corporation’s reported trading of petroleum products.

Rep. Carmelo Lazatin of Pampanga filed House Resolution 2903, which urges the House Committee on Bases Conversion to investigate the alleged engagement CDC in trading petroleum products.

“It was alleged that CDC has engaged itself in the trading of petroleum products, a function outside of its mandate,” Lazatin said.

The mandate of CDC, Lazatin explained, is similar to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority’s, provided in Act 7916.

The law did not give express authority for the corporation to engage in business.

Act 7916, meanwhile, provides that “PEZA shall register, regulate, and supervise all registered enterprises within the Special Economic Zones.”

Because of reports of CDC’s alleged acts of engaging in functions outside its lawful mandate, Lazatin said there is a need to investigate if the CDC has committed a serious violation of its mandate. The CDC, created under Act 722, which was amended by Act 9400, is mandated to run the economic and business affairs within the Clark Freeport Zone.

The measure has been referred for appropriate action to the special Committee on Bases Conversion chaired by Rep. Manuel Agyao of Kalinga.