New ERC chief has links with IPPs — Lacson

07/15/2008

Even before she officially takes office, Zenaida Ducut’s appointment as new head of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is being assailed as the suspicion that her placement to the post was intended to allow President Arroyo to have full and unrestrained control of the profitable energy sector has been apparently bolstered by the former’s having links with some power-generating firms, an opposition senator yesterday said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson alleged that based on “information” he obtained, Ducut has links with some power-generating firms, specifically those involved in the use of coal, that are owned by some perceived cronies of Malacañang.

Lacson made the allegations after suspicions were raised that the Palace is eyeing to have full control of the power industry as indicated by its having strategically placed known allies and associates of the administration, including a member of the First Family, in key posts in the energy sector.

Lacson said Ducut, who happens to be a provincemate of President Arroyo, has had dealings in the past with some of the companies that made transactions with the state-owned power firm National Power Corp. (Napocor).

“There are alleged connections and we will try to establish or review if there is significance in their links as to the involvement in coal supply (of some power generating firms) and/or any business dealings in the energy sector,” he said.

Lacson then vowed to scrutinize Ducut’s every move and expose her real standing in the power industry that would substantiate the belief on the real reason she was named to the ERC helm that was vacated by its former chairman, Rodolfo Albano.

He further alleged that he had received reports that Ducut, a former member of the House of Representatives, has ties with some administration cronies.

Lacson, however, refused to name these alleged Palace cronies, saying he will expose them in the proper time.

“We should scrutinize if the corporation that has been making deals with Napocor has a connection with the new ERC chairman or if she has a connection with the cronies of the President and the First Family. That is what we should try to determine,” he said.

Another opposition Senator, Alan Peter Cayetano, also criticized Ducut’s appointment to the ERC.

Cayetano, who led the upper chamber last year in investigating some alleged anomalous transactions by the government, also noted reports about Ducut being a close ally of Mrs. Arroyo.

He said technical people or experts in the field of energy should be made to handle the ERC, not mere politicians.

Cayetano moreover said Malacañang should stop appointing personalities known to be close associates of Mrs. Arroyo, to prevent the Executive from being accused of politicizing the sensitive positions in government.

Angie M. Rosales

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