Aquino: I never asked for emergency powers

President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said that he never asked for emergency powers to address the country’s energy problems, media reports said.

“I never asked for emergency powers,” Aquino was quoted saying at a groundbreaking event for a natural gas plant in Batangas.

The President said he did not think that the country was in a situation where he had to employ Section 17, Article 12 of the Constitution which allows the State to “temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately-owned public utility or business affected with public interest” in times of national emergency or “when the public interest so requires.”

The Palace earlier downplayed suggestions of some lawmakers to use emergency powers in dealing with the power rate increase, among other things. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said they are focused on finding concrete solutions to the problem.

It was administration ally and Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone who first suggested that Congress look into the possibility of granting limited emergency powers to the President, in a bid to expedite the process of building power plants and transit systems.

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