P1.50 diesel rollback a ‘farce’--militants
By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:53:00 07/21/2008
Filed Under: Oil & Gas - Downstream activities
MANILA, Philippines -- A “farce” was how militant groups called the recent P1.50 diesel rollback by oil companies, saying it is a political move by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to score “brownie points” as her State of the Nation Address (SONA) draws near.
In a statement, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan, New Patriotic Movement) secretary general Renato Reyes said the recent oil price rollback only aimed to appease transport and militant groups who had expressed outrage over the P3 per liter increase in diesel prices over the weekend.
“[The rollback] is a calculated political move aimed at defusing public outrage over the non-stop oil price increases and the Value Added Tax [VAT] on oil,” Reyes added.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza announced on Sunday the P1.50 per liter rollback on diesel. The rollback took effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday.
Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) secretary general George San Mateo also called the rollback “alms” from the government.
“The only reason why Malacańang called for the rollback is not because they care for the people but rather the government is afraid because of the plummeting ratings of Arroyo and the public outrage caused by the unabated oil price increases,” he said.
Reyes also said the rollback only deferred the collection of under recoveries of oil companies.
“The P1.50 rollback will be recouped by the oil companies in a matter of days, or during their next increase which is likely five days from now,” he said.
“The P1.50 rollback in diesel, which Dureza announced would be implemented midnight, is but pittance and a drop of alms if this will be compared to the high local price of diesel and other petroleum products resulting from the manipulation, over-pricing, and transfer-pricing that the big oil companies, in connivance with the Arroyo government, have been doing,” San Mateo also said in Filipino.
Both groups said they would join the protest action on July 28 during the President’s speech before lawmakers at the House of Representatives to “expose the real state of the nation,” said Reyes.
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