Iloilo lawmaker derails confirmation of DOE secretary

MANILA, Philippines –  Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron has single-handedly derailed the confirmation of Energy Secretary Rene Almendras by the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA).

CA sources told The STAR yesterday that the commission’s energy committee was ready to endorse Almendras two weeks ago before Congress started its Christmas recess had Biron withdrawn his opposition to the energy secretary’s confirmation.

“The DOE chief would have been among the Cabinet members confirmed before the recess,” a member of the House-CA panel said.

He said his colleague from Iloilo raised some corruption issues involving former Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas and the electric cooperative in the province.

“Secretary Almendras promised to look into those issues and to take action against those involved in corruption. He felt that those issues should not impede his confirmation and that he should be given time to look into them as the alleged irregularities happened during his predecessor’s watch,” he said.

Since Biron did not want to withdraw his opposition despite Almendras’ assurances of action, the energy committee had no choice but to withhold endorsement of the DOE Secretary’s confirmation.

Under CA rules, a member can derail confirmation of any nominee during the commission’s weekly sessions, except the last session before the mandatory adjournment of Congress in June.

The member need not cite a reason for his objection.

During the last session, the appointment of the nominee objected to is to be put to a vote. The nominee is either confirmed or rejected.

Reached for comment, Biron acknowledged that his beef against Almendras is about corruption involving the electric cooperative in his province and irregularities in the sale of power plants in Panay island.

“It’s about bribery, which attended the power supply agreement between ILECO (Iloilo Electric Cooperative) 3 and the independent power producer, ARTECH,” Biron said in a text message.

“Next is the questionable sale of the Panay power plant for $5 million when the valuation was $30 million. On top of that, the power plant in Bohol was given away for free,” he said.

Biron said Almendras has to explain these transactions even if these took place before his appointment as energy secretary.

When asked if he linked former governor Tupas in the corruption case involving the local electric cooperative, Biron responded, “Yes, Tupas was the bribe giver.”

The two are political enemies.

Of the 19 Cabinet nominations President Aquino submitted to the CA, only four have been confirmed.

These are Secretary Armin Luistro of Education, Proceso Alcala of Agriculture, Rogelio Singson of Public Works and Highways, and Alberto Lim of Tourism.