Pimentel tells Cusi: Spend more time on power problems, not on politics

FILE Senator Koko Pimentel and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi

MANILA, Philippines — Instead of politicking, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi should instead spend more time resolving the country’s power problems.

Senator Aqulino “Koko” Pimentel III gave this unsolicited advice to Cusi on Tuesday following the latter’s statements perceived to add more to the seeming rift within the ruling political group, PDP-Laban.

Pimentel is executive vice chairman of the party, while Cusi serves as its vice chairman.

“Sec. Cusi should spend more of his time on the power/energy shortage issue that we have as of the moment. Saka na ang politika, nasa pandemya pa tayo when energy needs are very critical,” Pimentel said in a message when sought for comment.

Pfizer vaccine, for instance, needs negative 70 Celsius storage, thus consistent power supply is required, the senator noted.

“Imagine the energy needed to achieve that!”  he said.

Cusi earlier claimed that the party chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte himself, and some members of, were not aware and consulted when Senator Manny Pacquiao was elected president of PDP-Laban last December.

Pimentel, however, stressed that “automatic succession doesn’t need permission to happen.”

“The party has president and Executive VP (EVP) among other officers. Under party rules, the EVP succeeds the president in case of vacancy in the position. The party president gave way, hence EVP became president under party succession rules. Automatic succession doesn’t need permission to happen,” he said.

Pimentel further said that one way of helping a party mate running for national office is to give him national exposure or a national platform through the party.

EDV