Ex-Energy chief Petilla files COC for senator; vows to solve Mindanao’s power woes

Resigned Department of Energy secretary and former Leyte governor Carlos Jericho Petilla files his COC for senator at the Commission on Elections office. YUJI VINCENT GONZALES/INQUIRER.net

Resigned Department of Energy secretary and former Leyte governor Carlos Jericho Petilla on Friday filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator at the Commission on Elections headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

Asked if he thinks he will get enough votes in Mindanao despite continuous power outages in the region, Petilla stressed that the power problem in the area started even before he was appointed in the department way back in 2005.

Petilla, who will run under the Liberal Party (LP)-led “Daang Matuwid Coalition,” said there will be an “oversupply” of power in Mindanao if he will be elected.

READ: LP bares slate dubbed ‘Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid’ | Roxas eyes Petilla for Senate slot

Aside from energy, Petilla said his legislative agenda will also focus on health and education.

“Dito sa Pilipinas,  baon ka na sa utang, isang sakit lang. Dalawa, magnanakaw ka na,” Petilla told reporters after filing his COC.

(Here in the Philippines, you are bound to drown in debt once you fall ill. Fall ill a second time, and you would steal [to get healthcare].)

Petilla said he will also advocate multimedia education through technological innovations.

Asked about the chances of winning of LP senatorial bets, Petilla said he is confident majority of them will make it to the top 12, considering results of recent preference polls.

“Majority will go in. Whether it’s all, depende na ‘yan sa kampanya namin. We’ll do our best para lahat ay mapasok. Kaming mga neophyte ay kumukuha ng pointers sa kanila (veterans,” he said.

(Majority will go in, Whether [all will be in the top 12], that would depend on our campaign. We’ll do our best so that all can enter the top 12. Neophytes like us are getting pointers from the veterans.)

Petilla resigned as energy chief in June due to “personal reasons,” noting that it was neither because of pressure nor conflicts. CDG

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