Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on Monday said she sees no reason for the Philippine government to entrust the sale of Malampaya to Udenna and UC Malampaya which have a history of partnering up with China-owned companies.
De Lima reiterated that Malampaya is crucial to the country’s national interest, and its sale to Udenna and UC Malampaya is not only replete with badges of irregularities, but also indicative of a collusion prejudicial to the interests of the Filipino people.
“That Malampaya is crucial to our national interest is an understatement. Our country relies heavily on the energy production of Malampaya as well as the revenue it generates. Equally as important is its location in the West Philippine Sea where China is slowly creeping into our territorial waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” De Lima said in a statement.
“There is absolutely no reason why we should entrust Malampaya to Udenna and UC Malampaya. They have neither the resources nor expertise to run the operation and conduct further exploration,” she said.
“And worse, they have a history of partnering up with China-owned companies who continue to dispute our legally-established rights over the West Philippine Sea,” she pointed out.
De Lima further said Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi should explain why he is not recusing himself on the matter which was aptly described by retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio as the “biggest presidential gift to a crony.”
“Cusi had a prior transaction with Dennis Uy that made him a billionaire overnight. Noong 2017, binenta ni Cusi yung kompaniya niyang Starlite Ferries sa Chelsea Logistics ni Dennis Uy kung saan naging 1.6 bilyong piso ang naging net worth niya mula sa 163 milyon noong 2016,” she said of the Davao-based businessman and a known supporter of the Duterte administration.
De Lima pointed out UC Malampaya was only incorporated last Sept. 1, 2019, or 18 days before the DOE announced it would no longer renew its service contract on Chevron and Shell.
“Saktong nabuo sila noong may pagkakataong mabili ang interest ng Chevron at Shell (They were only incorporated when they were able to buy the shares of Chevron and Shell). Convenient!” she added.
“Dahil bagong gawa lang sila gaya ng Pharmally, wala rin silang karanasan ni kaalaman sa pagpapatakbo ng Malampaya. Bukod dito kailangan pa nila utangin ang pambayad nila. Bakit natin papayagang mabenta ang isang importanteng proyekto sa isang kompanya na walang kakayahang magpatakbo ng Malampaya at walang pambayad (Because they are also a new company like Pharmally, they also have no experience or knowledge in running Malampaya. Aside from this, they have yet to loan the money. Why are we allowing the sale of an important project to a company that has no capability to run Malampaya and has no financial capacity)?” the lawmaker pointed out.
De Lima, who is seeking re-election in the upcoming May 2022 elections, was referring to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., an undercapitalized new company which bagged a multi-billion contract for COVID-19 supplies with the government during the height of the pandemic.
The controversy on Pharmally is currently being investigated by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
De Lima said Filipinos should not tolerate such transactions that would surely affect the country’s future generations.
“This is a transaction that will affect future generations of Filipinos. We must act swiftly and decisively, lest we lose what rightfully belongs to our nation’s children,” she said.
“These coming elections, one question should be running through the minds of voters: who do I trust with our most precious resources and our children’s future?” she stressed.