I have been informed about, and have read, Senate Resolution No. 137 released this afternoon by the Senate based on the hearings conducted by the Senate Energy.

Once again, for the record, I assure everyone that I am ready to face any and all charges brought against me in the proper forum. I am prepared to explain and prove that all of the actions of the Department of Energy (DOE) regarding the sale and transfer of shares of Malampaya are legal, aboveboard and in accordance with the powers and mandate of the Department.

I am elated that this matter may now be brought before the proper legal forum where evidence, logic and reason are used as bases for determining whether or not an irregularity has been committed. That had not been the case at the Committee hearing where innuendoes, speculation and hearsay propagated by certain business interests dictated the course of the so-called “investigation”.

I find it unfortunate that the Malampaya issue has been politicized by those whose business interests must have been put in jeopardy as I stayed on course and performed my duties as Energy Secretary.

I call on the public to see beyond the politicization of the issue. I trust that, in time, I will be vindicated before the proper court of the malicious and baseless accusations heaped against my person and the DOE.

It is unfortunate that, in the course of the Committee hearings, Senator Gatchalian had chosen to lend his ear to those adversarial business interests. It was obvious in these hearings that Senator Gatchalian has sought to undermine the DOE’s ability to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the proposal covering the said sale of shares.

It is even more unfortunate that the senator should persist in fueling a gross misunderstanding of the issues on the part of the public by unfairly labelling the recent developments on Malampaya as, quote-unquote, “defective, lutong macau and graft-ridden” which is an insult to the DOE officials and employees.

It is evident that the hearings were merely intended to force me out of office in order to frustrate and invalidate what are legally binding transactions involving ownership of shares of Malampaya contractors. 

At the end of the day, it is undisputed that SC38 or the Malampaya Deep Water Gas to Power Project continues to operate seamlessly and optimally despite the sale of shares.

I am elated that I now have the chance to be given my day in court.

Meanwhile, I would like to assure the public that I remain committed to discharging my duties as Secretary of Energy to the best of my abilities.

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