Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao on Wednesday blasted Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi for being interested in political power and not electric power availability as Luzon faces brownouts due to power plant shutdowns.
The Pacquiao blast followed his tiff with Cusi who convened a PDP-Laban National Assembly meeting in Cebu despite his objections that it violates their party Constitution and by-laws.
Pacquiao, PDP-Laban acting President, had called on party members to boycott the meeting because only he as the party President and President Duterte as chairman could call a party National Assembly meeting.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque earlier said President Duterte authorized Cusi, party vice chairman, to convene the General Assembly.
This rift was seen as a way out for Pacquiao as party President or that Pacquiao should now consider resigning for criticizing President Duterte.
Earlier, Pacquiao commented on President Duterte's soft stance vis-à-vis the bullying tactics of tactics on the West Philippine Sea territorial dispute.
Despite denials, there are signs showing that Pacquiao has presidential ambitions plans and that PDP-Laban could be his political platform.
He had said becoming a President is a matter of destiny.
Now the rift has reached the Senate with Pacquiao delivering a privilege speech attacking Cusi, an alter ego of President Duterte.
Pacquiao had anchored his attacks on Cusi past Senate testimonies that there would be no power shutdowns this summer.
In his speech, Pacquiao asked what are the emergency plans of Cusi’s Department of Energy (DOE).
‘’Do we have the capability to address this problem?’’ he asked.
‘’Mr. President (Senate President), naaawa po ako sa mga mahihirap natin na mga kababayan pati sa ang mga nahihikahos ng mga negosyo na apektado nitong brownouts (I pity the poor, including those having difficulties in their businesses who are affected by brownouts),’’ he said.
Pacquiao recalled that Cusi declared five years ago that there is no looming power crisis ‘’and here we are having brownouts.’’
‘’Are we expecting bigger problems pertaining to power supply? Have we done enough preparations for the surge in power supply demand this summer?’’ he asked.
Pacquiao then stressed that brownouts is a recurring problem and the country could not rely on the same strategies to solve this problem on the rapidly growing demand for power supply.
The boxing icon said he is with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian in calling for accountability for all concerned agencies.
‘’We need dedicated officials who will fulfill their sworn duties and responsibilities to the Filipino people,’’ he pointed out.
Pacquiao emphasized his call for a truce in politicking because of the varied problems Filipinos are facing.
‘’Pero nakakalungkot isipin na may mga opisyal na dapat sana ay nangangasiwa ng sitwasyon na kinahaharap natin na negbibibingihan at inuuna ang pamumulitika kesa solusyonan ang problem ng ating bayan (It is sad that there are officials who are supposed to face the situation but are deaf and are politicking instead of solving problems of the country),’’ he said.
‘’Sa nangyayari ngayon, mukhang ibang power issue ang inaatupag n gating Energy Secretary (What is happening now is that our Energy Secretary is focused on other power issues),’’ he added.
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