The Chinese board chairman and directors of electricity transmission monopoly National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and their billionaire Filipino-Chinese partners were a no-show in Thursday’s hearing on alleged violations of the transmission assets concessionaire of the Constitution and its legislative franchise.
It was Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, who called the attention of the Committee on Legislative Franchises chaired by Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting about the absence of members of the NGCP board invited by the hearing panel.
“We have invited the chairman of the NGCP Zhu Guangchao, nandito po ba siya ngayon (is he here today)?” Fernandez asked.
Tambunting told Fernandez that Zhu and other officials of the board have sent letters explaining their absence.
NGCP Vice chairmen Henry Sy Jr. and businessman Robert Coyiuto Jr. were also absent in the hearing. Other Chinese nationals in the NGCP board namely Yao Yousheng, Wang Lyjin, and Liu Xinhua were also not present in the inquiry.
“So ano pong (what are their) reasons Mr. [Anthony] Almeda kung bakit hindi sila [mga directors] dumating (why did the directors not show up)?” Fernandez asked.
Almeda, NGCP president and CEO, said the Chinese board members of their corporation are in Beijing for the Chinese New Year. He said Sy was in the “embassy.” Tambuting said Coyiuto has submitted a medical certificate.
The two Filipino-Chinese billionaires are both vice chairmen of the transmission monopoly.
“Kailan po ang (When is the) Chinese New Year?” Fernandez asked again.
In response, Almeda said: “On 29th and then they have a special meeting, [I think], every year on January of all.”
“So, hanggang kailan po ang (until when is) Chinese New Year?” Fernandez asked again.
“Twenty-nine, [I believe], Mr. Chair. I’m not so sure of the date because I don’t keep track on the date,” Almeda replied.
“So, in the next hearing po natin, I’m sure na makakakarating na po sila. Sana po ay dumating na po sa susunod na hearing (I hope they show up in the next hearing),” Fernandez said.
Fernandez moved that all NGCP’s board members and Chinese managers be invited again to the committee’s next hearing.
Quezon City Rep. Franz Pumaren said if the Chinese board members considered the hearing important, they should have flown back to Manila since Chinese New Year is next week yet.
“Ang point ko lang dito, Chinese New Year is January 29. So, if they find this hearing very important, ano ba naman to fly back here, attend the hearing, then fly back again to China? Are they trying to avoid the hearing? January 29, Chinese New Year, tama po ba?” Pumaren asked.
NGCP Director Paul Sagayo Jr. said that on top of the Chinese New Year “our Chinese partners, their corporation has an annual meeting yesterday (Wednesday), which they need to attend.”
The other Filipino board members are Jose Pardo, and Francis Chua.
Because of the presence of Chinese nationals in the NGCP board and management, former president Melvin Matibag of state-owned National Transmission Co. said the Chinese need not intrude in the West Philippine Sea or occupy any Philippine territory.
“Nag-uusap-usap tayo, West Philippine Sea may nakita tayong mga barko ng China na malalaki, ito po hindi na kailangang pumasok pa sapagkat nandito sila sa sistema mismo natin ng ating power grid,” Matibag said.
(You know, we talk about the West Philippine Sea. We saw the giant ships of China. They don’t really have to enter anymore because they already infiltrated our power grid system.)
He said lawmakers should be more concerned about the implications of Chinese involvement in the management of the country’s power transmission lines and other assets on national security and interest, rather than on the impact of NGCP project delays on the cost of electricity.
He said the United Kingdom has junked the Chinese equipment and software service provider in its transmission grid due to national security concerns.
The Philippines should do the same for the same reason, he added.
In the course of the hearing, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines said NGCP project delays have cost Filipino consumers tens of billions of pesos in higher electricity rates.