Wednesday, June 04, 2008 Gonzalez hits foreign traders’ meddling in RP’s political affairs
JUSTICE Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. on Tuesday lashed at what he called the meddling of foreign business chambers in the political affairs of the country, amid calls to implement the Electric Power Reform Industry Act (Epira).
Gonzalez issued the statement amid calls of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to have officials of the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC), the umbrella organization of foreign investors, appeared before the Senate to explain their opposition to proposed amendments to the Epira.
The Epira was enacted to reduce electricity rates, prevent monopolies in the generation and distribution and pave the way for a transparent electricity market. Rising power rates have prompted the review of the law, but this was being opposed by the JFC claiming this would result in a highly unstable legal framework for the industry and investors.
“They are always meddling, especially the foreign businessmen. They are always meddling because they think they are superior human beings,” Gonzalez told reporters in a press briefing when asked if he supported Enrile’s position that the foreign businessmen are intervening in the crafting of national policies.
Gonzalez said he also shared the sentiments of some senators who thought that it was improper for the JFC to even write to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to warn her that amending the Epira would “impact on the credibility and put at risk the ongoing power-sector reforms.”
“That is, in effect, an interference, because that proposal (to review Epira) is still in the works,” he said.
He is also confident that the efforts to revisit the Epira would not drive away foreign investors, as long as the country remains an attractive business destination for them.
“As long as the Philippines remains an attractive investment site, they will not go away. We are listening to them, but that doesn’t mean that they can interfere in policy making,” he said.
Gonzalez also accused that some foreign businessmen are financing the rallies in Makati, but he refused to name them when he was asked.
“Some of these businessmen in Makati even fund rallies to destabilize the country. I know them. I have the facts. I have the names,” he said.
“We always welcome the advice of foreigners because we welcome their investments and we feel that they make the suggestions because they think that these are the correct solutions or because it would not be good for their own investments. But we should decide what is good for us,” he said. (ECV/Sunnex)
