GMA ally denies being named to PSALM

A supporter of President Arroyo denied yesterday that she has been appointed president of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM).

"That is not true. I have not been appointed to PSALM," Evelyn Kilayko told reporters covering the House of Representatives.

"I am a dentist. I am not qualified for that post. It has not been offered to me, and if offered, I will certainly reject it," she said.

On Tuesday, an administration congressman close to the President, who did not want to be identified, revealed to reporters that Kilayko had been named to replace Nieves Osorio as PSALM president.

When asked by The STAR when Kilayko was appointed, he said the President signed the appointment last Friday.

Her supposed appointment lent credence to reports that Mrs. Arroyo was planning to make changes in the leadership of the energy sector.

The President told the Bloomberg news service in Cebu City early this week that she felt the privatization of state-owned power assets has been slow.

She announced her plans in the wake of the botched sale of the P30-billion plant of the National Power Corp. in Masinloc, Zambales.

Kilayko, who is a member of the board of the state-owned Nayong Pilipino, is one of several supporters of Mrs. Arroyo who filed with the House justice committee three weeks ago a motion for intervention and for the dismissal of the impeachment complaints against the President. — Jess Diaz