POWER CRISIS: "Special power" for GMA opposed

CEBU, Philippines - Candidates from Nacionalista Party and Liberal Party yesterday opposed the move to reconvene Congress for a special session to grant President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the power to solve the ongoing power crisis.

They said reconvening Congress would be “very dangerous,” as it might alleged be used as an opportunity for Arroyo to condition the minds of Senators and Congressmen of a possible brownout during the May 10 polls.

“This very dangerous to give additional power to someone who has the tendency to abuse,” said senatorial bet Satur Ocampo in a press conference at the Adnama Building at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.

Ilocos Representative and NP senatorial bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos also said the power crisis issue has long been existent and everyone is now suffering “because of the negligence of the Arroyo administration.”

“A very dangerous situation, which is prone to abuse…. hindi pa naman sila mahiyain,” Marcos said.

For her part, Gabriela Partylist Rep. Liza Maza said reconvening Congress would provide the Arroyo administration the chance to enter into “midnight deals” with private power companies.

Meanwhile, Liberal Party standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III said there was no reason for Arroyo to exercise emergency powers to address the energy problems brought about by the El Nino phenomenon because the “crisis” could still be artificial at this time.

Aquino noted there were a lot of means to help Mindanao deal with the power crisis and emergency powers should be the last resort.

Aquino told STAR editors and reporters his camp was verifying reports circulating that the energy crisis was artificial and could only be used to further the interests of some groups during the elections.

He said based on the reports, Luzon and Visayas were not yet affected by the blackouts and that only Mindanao had been hit so far.

Aquino explained the source of the energy problems must also be looked into properly. He said there were issues that could have been addressed early on but were not.

“We want to know, is it because of mismanagement ? Is it a prelude to some money business come election day? Therefore if it is artificial, the emergency powers will not have (any basis),” Aquino said.

Senator Francis Escudero also said in a radio interview he would not support the grant of emergency powers because it might only be abused by the current administration.

Earlier, opposition Representative Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro proposed to give Arroyo an emergency power to solve the power crisis, a move that was also welcomed by Malacañang.

Cebu has and continues to experience rotating brownouts since last month owing to deficient power generation. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon and Philippine Star News Service/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)