‘Plain and simple blackmail’ — solons

OPPOSITION and administration lawmakers yesterday denounced the oil firms’ warning of a supply shortage as a consequence of the price rollback ordered by Malacañang as “plain and simple blackmail.”
   
Anakpawis Rep.  Joel Maglunsod, Gabriela Rep.  Liza Maza, Bayan Muna Rep.  Satur Ocampo, Speaker Prospero “Boy” Nograles Jr., Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez and Antique Rep. Exequiel Javier said the threat of oil firms goes against public interest.
  
“It’s a pure and simple blackmail to protect their profits.  The government should be steadfast in implementing EO 839,” said Maglunsod.
  
“They just want to create fear. Oil companies should open their books. They have pocketed huge super profits and have taken advantage through unjustified price increases,” said Maza.
  
Ocampo said “for the longest time, the oil companies have gotten their way and jacked up their prices.  It cannot be expected (that oil firms would) suddenly obey.”
  
Nograles said the threat of oil companies would boomerang on them since the government can interfere in the operations of their business during crisis.
  
“The said supply shortage will open a crisis where government can interfere in accordance with the laws on the matter. This kind of threat or mild blackmail won’t fly. In the national interest the government will take over. I strongly advise them not to test this route,” said Nograles.
  
Suarez, chairman of the House committee on oversight, said oil companies should not resent the President’s directive which was done for the good of everyone, especially the typhoon victims.
  
“All this warning about an oil supply shortage will not help at all in normalizing our situation. Oil companies should show more cooperation and concern by following the President’s directive,” said Suarez.
  
Javier, chairman of the House committee on ways and means, said oil companies have a lot of explaining to do if the country suffers an oil supply shortage.
  
“The worse that can happen is an artificial shortage in light of these warnings from oil companies. Government will not allow this to happen,” said Javier.

Suarez and Javier also maintained that EO 839, which mandates that oil prices be pegged at October 15 prices, is justified in light of recent oil price hikes while the state of calamity has not been fully lifted.
  
On Saturday, the President issued EO 839 in response “to the clamor of the Filipino people to prevent unreasonable increase in prices of petroleum products during a state of calamity.”