Lotilla should be allowed to serve as Energy Secretary, says lawmaker

 Raphael Lotilla

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday said he believes Raphael Lotilla should be allowed to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Energy despite his affiliations with the private sector.

Lotilla was nominated as Energy Secretary  “pending clarification of his employment status” since he is currently an independent director of Aboitiz Power and also of ENEXOR.

Under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 7638 “no officer, external auditor, accountant, or legal counsel of any private company or enterprise primarily engaged in the energy industry shall be eligible for appointment as Secretary within two years from his retirement, resignation, or separation therefrom.”

For his part, Gatchalian, who served as the Senate energy committee chairman, said he believes Lotilla is qualified for the Energy chief post since he does not have any direct management responsibility in the private companies mentioned.

He said his interpretation of the law only prohibits officers who are directly managing the company to participate in government.

“Lotilla is a director and he doesn’t have any direct management responsibility in those companies that were mentioned, he just provides director advise, director participation  so in my interpretation, he should be allowed to sit as the Secretary of Energy,” he said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.

In an earlier statement, Gatchalian lauded the nomination of Lotilla as Energy Secretary saying he is a “good choice.”

“I am confident that he will be able to cascade the benefits of the energy sector to all Filipinos – cheap electricity rates, stable power supply, and a clean future,” he said.

According to the senator, during the 18th Congress, he himself worked and consulted with Lotilla.

“He has proven legal and technical knowledge necessary in addressing various pressing issues in the sector and to ensure energy security for our country,” Gatchalian said.

“Most importantly, he has unquestionable integrity that is required of a leader of a vital government department,” he added.

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