đź“· Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas | Sentinel Times
BATANGAS governor Hermilando Mandanas could face eviction from his office unless he could prove that he has no stakes in gas power projects in Batangas.
In an Associated Press report, Mandanas, who has been an advocate of natural gas power, is behind AbaCore Capital Holdings Inc. since the 80s.
Citing thousands of pages of documents it has in its possession, AP claimed that “Mandanas and his late wife stood to profit from a buildout of liquefied natural gas power – he owned the largest share in a real estate firm that soared in value as energy companies moved in, while he promoted the expansion in media interviews and public events.”
Gerry Arances, who heads up the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development, a Philippine non-profit organization, called for an honest-to-goodness investigation.
Mandanas however denied involvement with the buildout and called natural gas the best choice for the country.
Arances said natural gas was not the path the country should have chosen – “There’s only one reason” it became the Philippines’ energy priority. “That is greed and self-interest.”
Mandanas has time and again promoted Batangas as the country’s energy hub where four gas power plants are already located along the coastline – plus four more in the pipeline and six new terminals for importing chilled, liquefied natural gas.
“It is needed very much for development,” Mandanas was quoted by AP in its report.
Mandanas, known for his landmark court win on increased local government funding, has also been accused of owning the beachfront properties where most of the energy plants are situated – including AbaCore Capital Holdings Inc. which has already launched its own gas power project.
Under existing laws, government officials are not allowed to own major stakes in companies with goals that could be at odds with their official duties.
Relatedly, Atty. Michael Henry Yusingco, who is a fellow at the Philippine Institute for Autonomy and Governance, called the situation a clear conflict of interest that could merit Mandanas’ suspension or removal from office.
Documents filed with the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission show that Mandanas still owned almost 30 percent of it through a complex structure involving three layers of Philippine companies.
The AbaCore affiliate and three Chinese firms agreed to build a $3 billion LNG complex, including a power plant, in the fishing village of Simlong in Batangas. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
