GMA consultant supports OSG position on oil firms' audit

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo’s legal consultant expressed his support yesterday for Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera’s opposition to an order of a Manila trial court for three government agencies to audit the books of the country’s biggest oil firms for alleged cartelization.

Romulo Macalintal agreed with the argument raised by Devanadera in her motion for reconsideration (MR) asking Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 26 to set aside his April 27 court order to open the books of accounts of Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell and Chevron Philippines.

“These agencies are tasked by constitution to audit actions involving government agencies or instrumentalities thereof. Commission on Audit (COA), for instance, is tasked to audit or examine income and expenses of government-owned and controlled corporations and offices and agencies of government and constitutional bodies – but never the income or expenses of private firms,” he told The STAR.

Macalintal said the decision of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to file the motion was correct.

He also suggested that it should be private petitioners in the case, the Social Justice Society (SJS), who should conduct the audit and examine the oil firms’ books simply because “they have the burden to prove what they allege against the Big Three.”

Devanadera was earlier told by Press Secretary Cerge Remonde that the Palace had found the OSG’s motion “contrary” to public interest.