Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 6) — Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corporation on Sunday defended again its purchase of shares in the Malampaya natural gas facility, after senators recommended charges against Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi for approving the sale.
Udenna said it stands by its previous statements “that the Chevron transaction is a private sale of share conducted at parent company level with no change in the legal entities participating in the SC38 consortium nor any transfer of any rights or obligations.”
This meant approval from the Department of Energy was not required, the group emphasized.
On Friday, the Senate sent to the Ombudsman a resolution seeking graft, gross neglect of duty, and grave misconduct charges against Cusi and his subordinates and called for his resignation.
Senate energy committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian doubled down on his stand that there is enough evidence that the Malampaya transaction was anomalous.
“Sana ho mabasa ng kinauukulan itong 500-page report natin. Hindi ho namin tiningnan ang pulitika dito,” he said in a Balitaan sa Maynila forum on Sunday.
[Translation: I hope those concerned would read our 500-page report. There’s no politics here.]
While Cusi said he was ready to face any charges against him, President Rodrigo Duterte came to his defense, saying the Senate’s actions to “put in bad light” the Malampaya deal was “unfair to them (government officials) and to the public.”
Udenna welcomed Duterte’s remarks.
“As a company that has been in the business of investing in the Filipino, this statement by the President gives us confidence that our government cares for the welfare of business and those who invest in our country’s future,” said Raymond Zorrilla, Udenna Corporation spokesperson.
Based in Davao, Uy owns Phoenix Petroleum and was one of the biggest campaign donors of Duterte in 2016.
