Bohol solons want House probe on high fuel prices

TAGBILARAN CITY , Philippines   — All three representatives of Bohol vowed to move for a congressional inquiry on the high prices of fuel in the province compared to those in other areas.

Representatives Rene Relampagos (1st district), Erico Aristotle Aumentado (2nd district) and Arthur Yap (3rd district) said they have started drafting the resolution calling for a House probe, which they will file during the resumption of the session in time of the State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino III on July 28.

The action of the congressmen came after the Provincial Board called on them to initiate a House probe and create a multi-sector task force to trace the structure of pricing of fuel products carried out by local dealers.

PB Members Godofreda Tirol and Tomas Abapo Jr noted that gas stations in Ubay town have lower prices than those in Tagbilaran City, which were the suppliers of the stocks of the town's dealers.

Tirol also called on the Boholanos to maximize the influence of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instragram and other forum to widen and fast-track actions against high fuel prices.

Abapo, for his part, said Boholanos could only hope that the congressional inquiry could lever the crusade against the higher fuel prices in Bohol compared to other areas of the country, as it would serve as reference to a possible legal move against those behind the disparity in prices.

The Bohol congressmen said their resolution will be undertaken by the committee on rules, chaired by Rep. Neptali Gonzales II of Mandaluyong, before it will go to the committee on energy, headed by Rep. Reynaldo Umali of Oriental Mindoro.

Relampagos said he and his fellow Boholano congressmen would prefer the congressional inquiry to be conducted in Bohol itself, adding that they were also considering the filing of a case after identifying any unlawful act by oil companies, based on the results of the probe.

Before Governor Edgar Chatto left for an official trip to Japan last week, he met with the PB members and the three congressmen to come up with a landmark action against the issue, such as a resolution calling for a congressional inquiry. (FREEMAN)