Pacquiao hits Cusi for prioritizing politics amid rotational brownouts in Luzon

Amid the intramurals in PDP-Laban, Senator Manny Pacquiao slammed Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Wednesday for allegedly prioritizing politics over addressing the power outages in Luzon.

In a privilege speech, Pacquiao hit the “recurring” problem of brownouts across the country despite statements of Cusi, assuring the country that there is no looming energy crisis.

“Paulit-ulit po akong nananawagan na itigil na muna natin ang politika. Napakarami po nating problema na dapat nating harapin at hanapan ng solusyon,” Pacquiao said.

“Pero nakakalungkot isipin na 'yung ibang mga opisyales po namin na dapat ay nangangasiwa ng sitwasyon, ng mga problema natin na kinakaharap natin ngayong panahon na ito ay wala po tayo, ang inuna po ay pamumulitika,” he added.

He delivered the speech days after Cusi, the vice chairman of the ruling party, led the PDP-Laban’s national council meeting despite call of Pacquiao, who sits as party’s president, to skip the event.

“I’m talking directly to Sec. Cusi na as a PDP member, kasamahan sa partido, kung anuman 'yung mga ganyang sitwasyon, anuman 'yung mga pagkukulang natin ay nakakapekto sa aming mga PDP members na kasama namin sa isang partido,” he went on.

Pacquiao recalled Cusi’s statement five years ago, saying the Philippines will not face power crisis.

“Here we are, having brownouts. Nasa red alert pa naman tayo ngayon. We’re expecting bigger problems pertaining to power supply, have we done enough preparations for a surge in power supply demand this summer?” he asked.

“This is a recurring problem. We cannot rely on the same strategies to solve this problem on the rapidly growing demand for power supply. We need to innovate, to secure renewable energy sources,” he added.

Pacquiao stressed that the problems within the ruling party can be resolved “at the right time” but the Energy chief should address the problem in energy supply which affects the students, workers, businesses, and even the storage of COVID-19 vaccines.

The lawmaker emphasized that the entire PDP-Laban is being dragged to the energy issue as Cusi is one of their members.

“Ang partido ng PDP ang naapektuhan kasi Secretary Cusi is a member of PDP party. So lahat kaming members nadadamay kami,” he said, adding that even President Rodrigo Duterte will be dragged in the issue.

“Naapektuhan din ang Pangulo niyan dahil pinagkatiwalaan ka ng Pangulo, nilagay ka d’yan dahil nagtiwala s’ya sa’yo, hindi 'yung madismaya ang Pangulo sa’yo. Kaya dapat ipakita din natin na may accomplishment tayong nagawa,” he added.

During the interpellation of his privilege speech, Pacquiao also said Cusi is “incompetent” in leading the DOE as the energy problem still persists until now.

The lawmaker also said accountability should be demanded from Cusi, noting that he has the command responsibility in the DOE.

“I hope the President will take action on the problem dahil bilyon ang malulugi 'pag may blackout,” he added.

GMA News Online asked Cusi for his comment on Pacquiao’s speech but he has yet to issue a statement as of posting time.

In a forum early in the day, Cusi said he and the Department of Energy (DOE) are addressing the thin power supply hounding the Luzon grid amid criticisms that he is more focused on politics.

On Tuesday, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate has called on Cusi to address the thin power supply in Luzon instead of attending to intramurals in the ruling PDP-Laban.

During the ruling party’s national council meeting on Monday in Cebu, a resolution calling on President Rodrigo Duterte to run for vice president in the 2022 elections was adopted.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has raised Red and Yellow alerts over Luzon due to thin power supply caused by planned and unplanned outages of several power plants.—AOL, GMA News