PIMENTEL, PACQUIAO MEET CHESS LEGEND EUGENE TORRE: Senate President Koko Pimentel (2nd from right) along with Senate Committee on Sports Chairman Senator Manny Pacquiao (2nd from left), meet Filipino chess legend Eugene Torre (right) , Asia’s first chess grandmaster, during a courtesy call on Monday, October 3, 2016. Torre won a bronze medal at board three of the 2nd World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan last month. Also in photo is ex-PBA cager Zaldy Realubit (left)..(MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday deferred the ad interim appointment of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi over questions on data on barangay electrification.
Senator Panfilo Lacson raised the question during the hearing, as he pointed out that Cusi’s professional background and experience are related to the logistics and transportation industry.
Cusi told the CA committee on energy that electrification in barangays is now 100 percent despite the fact that not all households have access to electricity.
“We cannot say barangays are 100-percent powered by electricity when a few sitios in those barangays, wala din kuryente,” Lacson said.
At one point, Lacson threatened to invoke Section 20 of the CA rules, which gives any member of the commission the power to suspend the consideration of an appointment.
Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, both allies of President Rodrigo Duterte, then came to the confirmation hearing and were seen approaching Lacson.
Cusi was the former vice chairman of the PDP-Laban, the political party of Duterte and Pimentel.
Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon, chairman of the CA panel, noted that it was the most “well-attended” hearing so far. (MNS)