Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday hit Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi for supposedly engaging in politics at a time when some areas in Luzon are experiencing rotational brownouts due to low power supply.
Pacquiao delivered a privilege speech during the Senate's plenary session where he criticized Cusi over the power interruptions. The two are currently at odds with each other within the ruling PDP-Laban party, where they hold leadership posts.
"Nakakalungkot isipin na ang ibang opisyales natin na dapat ay mangasiwa ng sitwasyon ng problema natin na kinakaharap ngayong panahon na ito ay ang inuna ay yung pamumulitika. I'm talking directly to Sec. Cusi," he said.
Cusi, who serves as PDP-Laban vice chairman, presided over the party's national council meeting in Cebu on Monday, the same day the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines raised a red alert on Luzon, causing the island to experience rotating brownouts.
Pacquiao, the party's president, had called for a boycott of the meeting, saying it was not sanctioned by authorized national officials. Malacañang later confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte directed Cusi to preside over the meeting.
During the meeting, the PDP-Laban national council adopted a resolution urging Duterte to run for vice president in 2022.
The senator said it was Cusi who was ultimately responsible for the energy crisis. The energy minister should be held accountable over his shortcomings, he added.
"Yan ang sinasabi ko na unahin muna natin ang pagtulong. Kapag pulitika ang pinag-uusapan aayusin natin yan in the right time," Pacquiao said.
"Yung problema muna ng bansa ang atupagin natin dahil maraming mga kababayan ang naapektuhan especially kapag nagkakaroon ng blackout," he said.
Pacquiao said he delivered his privilege speech not to further bring up the issues within PDP-Laban.
"Ito ay para sa accountability nating lahat sa gobyerno na pinagkatiwalaan ng tao. Kaya nandito ako to speak on behalf of the Filipino people," he said.
PDP-Laban executive director Ron Munsayac said Pacquiao would request a meeting with Duterte to sort out the simple "misunderstanding" within the party.
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