Senatorial aspirant Jose Manuel 'Chel' Diokno on Monday, March 21, raised concerns over the possibility that the government is entering into any midnight nuclear power agreement, particularly with Russia, before President Duterte steps down from office.

Diokno, a human rights lawyer, said the Duterte administration should leave the electricity agenda to its successor.

“While we acknowledge that the electricity problem is an urgent matter, it would be best for the Duterte government not to enter into any nuclear or any other power deals during its remaining three months in power,” he said in a statement.

Diokno cited the possible negative implication to the Philippines when it forges a nuclear power agreement with the Russian government.

“Hindi rin maganda na papasok ang gobyerno ng kasunduan sa Russia dahil magdudulot ito ng masamang senyales, lalo pa’t ito ang nasa likod ng nangyayaring kaguluhan na nakaapekto sa presyo ng langis sa buong mundo (It is not good that the government will enter into an agreement with Russia because this will give a bad sign, especially it is behind the violence that is affecting the global oil prices),” he added.

Russian forces, on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, sea, and air, signaling the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since the second World War.

But despite the war hostilities raging between the two countries, the government, through the Department of Energy (DOE), declared that it will still pursue the agreement with Russia for the conduct of pre-feasibility study on nuclear power program.

READ: DOE: PH ‘nuclear power cooperation’ with Russia to stay

“Hayaan na lang ng Duterte government na isulong ng susunod na administrasyon ang mga programa nito na reresolba sa problema sa kuryente (The Duterte government should let the programs of the next administration resolve the electricity problem),” Diokno said.

“Sa paraang ito, makasisiguro tayo na maayos at malinaw ang mga papasuking kontrata at hindi ito magiging pabigat sa taumbayan (In this way, we can ensure it is entering into a proper and clear contract and it’s not a burden to the people),” he added.

Diokno earlier questioned the government’s decision to include nuclear energy as a source of electricity. He noted the safer and cleaner options that it can look into like renewable energy.