Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Palace denies private meeting between Arroyo, Meralco
MALACAÑANG said there will be no meeting between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Manila Electric Company (Meralco) chairman Manuel Lopez in Bohol on Tuesday over the fate of the power distribution firm.
Presidential Management Staff director general Cerge Remonde said Meralco president Jesus Francisco was the one who asked for an appointment with Arroyo and it was set way ahead.
Remonde said former Supreme Court (SC) justice Jose Vitug, management consultant of the firm, will also be present in Panglao, Bohol where the Cabinet meeting on power would be held.
"It's not even a private meeting. It is part of the Cabinet meeting because power (and) energy is in the agenda and the meeting will take place, not in a private meeting but in front of all the members of the Cabinet," he said.
"Everything will be done in full public transparency," he added.
He said Winston Garcia, president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and other players of the energy sector, including representatives of electric cooperatives, were invited.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the campaign to lower power rates is not between Meralco and the government or between the Lopez family and the Arroyo administration.
Fajardo said the Palace has nothing to do with the issue about the management of Meralco and will just leave the matter for the stockholders of Meralco to resolve. (JMR/Sunnex)
