President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday defended Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and asked senators to respect the Malampaya deal.
“I view with grave concern an apparent effort at the Senate to put in bad light recent developments involving the Malampaya gas field,” Duterte said in a statement issued Friday evening.
“This casts undue, undeserved, and unwarranted aspersion on the part of some of our key government officials. This is grossly unfair to them and to the public.”
The Senate earlier sent its resolution to the Office of the Ombudsman calling for the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Cusi and other Department of Energy executives over the sale of Malampaya Consortium shares.
“I have seen the report on the sale and purchase of the stock of Chevron Malampaya LLC. Based on this, I am convinced that this was a private transaction between private entities that must be respected,” Duterte said.
“I am likewise convinced that, in this case, the national interest has been protected and the rights of the government remain intact.”
Duterte said transactions such as the Malampaya deal should be left in the “capable hands of the business sector.”
“Let us respect their business decisions while we protect our national interests,” he said, adding he will not allow the project “to be jeopardized and embroiled in the political antics of some members of the Senate.”
“Let me reiterate: Energy Secretary Cusi has my full trust and confidence and shall remain at the helm of the department he heads,” Duterte said.