Jan 132014
Despite problems in the power and transport sectors, President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday thumbed down a proposal to grant him emergency powers.
“I don’t think we are in a situation na we have to [invoke] Section 17 of Article 12 [of the Constitution],” Aquino said after the groundbreaking ceremony of the San Gabriel Power Plant Project in Sta. Rita, Batangas City.
Section 17 of Article XII states that “In times of national emergency, when the public interest so requires, the State may, during the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately-owned public utility or business affected with public interest.”
The President issued the statement after Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone proposed that Congress grant Aquino powers to deal with what he called “catastrophic problems” of the energy sector, as well as mass transport in the country.
Aquino, however, said he never asked for emergency powers. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News
