Press Release
January 24, 2013

Opening Statement of Senator TG Guingona III
PSR No. 926 [Malampaya]

Magandang umaga po. Last year, I received a letter from concerned citizens asking the Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate alleged and massive irregularities in projects funded by Malampaya royalty.

Marami sa kanila ang nagsasabi na ang mga multimilyon na mga proyekto na ito ay:

  • Walang tibay

  • Hindi itatagal at

  • Walang dangal.

Mga daan na kumbaga "Just add water at lalambot, magiging sabaw sa ulan.

As Chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Committee, I personally filed a resolution to investigate this case because a careful reading of the COA reports left so many unanswered questions:

  • Nasunod ba ang mga batas ng ating bansa tulad ng procurement law?

  •  Nagamit ba nang tama ang pera para sa ikabubuti ng marami?

  •  Kung may gumawa man ng mali, nasaan na sila ngayon?

I discovered news reports referring to:

  • Impassable roads

  • Bridges that are not completed

  • School rooms unfinished

Allegations of corruption are widespread, continuing, and serious. In fact, some believe that Doc Gerry Ortega, a broadcaster, was murdered for talking about the ills of Malampaya-funded projects in Palawan. He was shot to death on January 24, 2011. Today, we observe the second anniversary of the slain broadcaster's death.

Ilang taon na rin ang lumipas, hanggang ngayon wala pang sagot.

Oras na para muling magtanong. Paano nga ba napunta sa Palawan ang parte ng kita galing sa Malampaya? Siguro kailangan ko munang ipaliwanag ito nang kaunti.

The Malampaya Gas Field is located near Palawan. The government, together with some private companies launched the Malampaya Deepwater Gas-to-Power project to draw natural gas "from beneath Philippine waters." There are three power stations being fed by the gas for Malampaya and these stations have a "total generating capacity of 2,700 megawatts to provide 50% of Luzon's power generation requirements."2

Malaki ang kita sa Malampaya project. Sa batas, dapat sana naghahatian ang National Government at ang Palawan sa kita nito: 60% para sa National Government, 40% para sa Palawan.

Unfortunately, Palawan's claim to its 40% share was disputed and a case was filed in court.

While the case was pending in court, an Interim Agreement was signed on February 9, 2005. Later,Executive Order 683 was signed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which gave way to a temporary solution to sharing of incomes. The Interim Agreement and Executive Order resulted in this sharing scheme: The share of the National Government was further divided to: 50 percent for the National Government and 50 percent for Palawan.

Saan napunta ang para sa Palawan? Ito ang hatian ayun sa COA report:

1. Php 966,000,000 para sa Provincial Government ng Palawan
2. Php 816,000,000 para sa First Congressional District.
3. Php 270,000,000 para sa Puerto Princesa
4. Php 520,000,000 para sa Second Congressional District of Palawan

Were these funds used for the benefit of the people? Maayos na ba ang lahat ng mga daan sa Palawan dahil sa mga proyekto na ito? Nakatulong ba ito sa buhay ng mga taga-Palawan.

Today, we are joined by people from Palawan who come before this Committee to share their allegations of irregularities in projects bankrolled with Malampaya funds given to Palawan. I have invited the COA and other government agencies to share with this Committee their findings on the matter. We are here today to uncover the truth behind this issue, to find out if irregularities have indeed been committed, to list down the names of those responsible, and to ensure that they are made liable for acts or omissions that violate the law.

Simple lang ang imbestigasyon na ito:

This investigation is about corruption, oppression, and injustice.

Gusto kong himukin ang taumbayan. Kayong mga may nalalaman sa isyu ng Malampaya projects sa Palawan, iyong mga may maitutulong sa aming imbestigasyon, please lang po,makipag-ugnayan salalong medaling panahon sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

Maraming salamat po.

News Latest News Feed