Pacquiao blames Cusi on power outages: ‘Kung ako ang ano eh, eh palitan kita’

MANILA, Philippines— If he were the president, Senator Manny  Pacquiao said he would remove Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi over the power interruptions being experienced now in the country.

Pacquiao blamed Cusi for the brownouts despite the latter’s earlier assurance to the Senate there would be no power outages during the dry season.

“Kung ako ang ano eh, eh palitan kita, maraming deserving na mamumuno dyan,” Pacquiao said when Senate Minority Leader Franklin  Drilon asked what he would do to  Cusi if he were the sitting president.

(I would replace  you, there are others deserving to lead there.)

READ: No power outages this summer, but thin supply looms

Pacquiao happens to be the acting president of the ruling PDP-Laban being chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte while Cusi serves as the political party’s vice-chairman.

Before this,  Pacquiao hit  Cusi for prioritizing politics over the country’s other pressing issues like the power problem.

After his speech,  Drilon asked pointed questions on who should be held accountable for the current electricity cutoffs.

“Ang nagkulang talaga dito ‘yung Secretary. Ang Secretary talaga, Si Secretary Cusi dahil ikaw ang Secretary ng Department ng Energy,’’ Pacquiao said.

(The one at fault here is the Secretary. It’s reallt the Secretary. Secretary Cusi because you are the Secretary of the Department of Energy.)

“Ikaw talaga ang may problema kasi you can exercise your power to solve the problem. Ikaw ang may command responsibility for this problem…” he added.

(You are really to blame because you can exercise your power to solve the problem. You have the command responsibility for this problem.)

Pacquiao said Cusi should be made accountable as he urged President Duterte to act on the matter.

At this point, Drilon asked Pacquiao if he was calling for Cusi’s resignation.

Pacquiao did not give a categorical answer to this question but pointed out that in other countries,  government officials voluntarily resign when there is failure in leadership.

But he said the decision whether to keep Cusi as energy chief would still be up to Duterte.

“It’s the prerogative of the President if tanggalin s’ya or bigyan s’ya ng chance…”  Pacquiao said.

(It’s the prerogative of the President if he’ll be removed or be given a chance.)

KGA