đź“·Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla
APPREHENSIONS over the appointment of a former director of a private power company may have basis after all, following the filing of multiple complaints against Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla who reportedly favored his former employer to which he granted a greenlight to proceed with a power plant expansion in Cebu.
Jointly filed by Sanlakas and Power for People Coalition (P4P), along with Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino Chairman Emeritus Leody De Guzman before the Office of the Ombudsman, Lotilla has been accused of violating a coal moratorium by allowing AboitizPower — where he used to be a member of the Board of Directors — to expand its coal-fed power plant in Toledo City.
Among the charges filed include violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and an administrative complaint for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service concerning Lotilla’s reported “endorsement” of Aboitiz’s Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI) Unit 3 expansion.
Lotilla’s reported endorsement, the complainants claimed, violates a coal moratorium issued by the DOE in 2020.
Under the moratorium, concerned stakeholders were notified that the DOE would not process applications for greenfield coal-fired power generation facility projects requesting for endorsements and existing and operational coal-fired power generation facilities, among others.
“By approving the expansion of TVI, Secretary Lotilla not only increased the cost of electricity for the people of Cebu and contributed to more pollution in the Central Visayas but also favored his old company, AboitizPower. AboitizPower was effectively exempted from following the provisions of the coal moratorium, a privilege not given to any other company,” P4P Convenor Gerry Arances said in a statement.
“Walang lugar ang interes ng malalaking negosyo sa kuryente, konsyumer dapat ang bigyan ng prayoridad. Oras na para sagutin ni Lotilla ang mga alegasyon na binabato laban sa kanya,” De Guzman for his part, said in reference to the expansion of the TVI that was approved three years after the coal moratorium took effect.
“Aboitiz Power, as late as 2023, could not even decide if the plant will be fueled by coal or gas. However, despite the moratorium, they decided to use coal, and the Department of Energy approved their request and claimed the project was exempted despite the project not obviously in the coal pipeline when the moratorium was issued.”  (ANGEL F. JOSE)
