Ka-Oil-lulan! Govt should import oil instead of these oil companies

These giant oil companies should be charged, their executives hauled to jail and their operations seized by government. They think that the Filipinos are easily fooled by their PR machinery. They think that getting the headlines of the Philippine Daily Inquirer would be enough pressure for this government to back down on the fight.

And I pity the PDI for allowing themselves to be used as the main speaking platform of these oil companies. How many millions of pesos worth of advertising space did these oil giants pay you, Mr. Inquirer? I thought the PDI sides with the people? IMagine, instead of releasing Santiago's report on the monumental corruption on the Road User's Tax (which I think deserves the headline), the PDI instead bannered or headlined the alleged "only two weeks supply" of the oil firms.

Crap. Bull. Katarantaduhan!

E.O. 839 is one of those singular acts of Mrs. Arroyo that deserves praise. Curiously though, Mrs. Arroyo allows her Energy secretary Angelo Reyes to play footsie and acts as the oil industry's main spokesperson and poster boy. It seems that government is playing both sides---Reyes, mouthing platitudes and portraying the role of the doomsday boy, while Justice secretary Agnes Devenadera leading the charge for the oil companies' prosecution. Who really speaks for and on behalf of Mrs. Arroyo?

Oil companies have been using the Inquirer to scare us and make us believe that there would be a shortage. These companies claim that their supplies will only last two weeks. And they position themselves as the only ones who can import oil products.

Under the Constitution and our laws, government can very well seize the assets of these oil firms and do the importing of oil products themselves. And I dare Malacanang to do such a thing. Let's put a stop to the "ka oil lulan" (kaululan) of these oil giants and "small" players who form this cartel, smash them to smithereens, and let government do its primary job of protecting the interests of the Filipino People.

Who will believe that these oil giants are "hurting" and "losing money"? EO 839 is just two weeks old. Imagine, oil companies claim they already lost 18 billion pesos worth of income. Yun naman pala. The truth is, they earn 18 billion pesos for just a week of operation.

If these companies would not import oil for fears of losing more money, let government seize all their assets, especially their refineries under the name of the State and let the People support them. Mrs. Arroyo can designate an energy czar or czarina or be the czarina herself and run the entire oil industry. Mrs. Arroyo can very well do this because we are still under a state of calamity.

Likewise, jail this LPGMA head who violated the EO by allowing his members to raise LPG prices by as much as 30 pesos. He deserves to spend the rest of his life in jail for violating not just our laws but making a mockery out of our government.

Who do these oil players and LPG dealers think they are, more powerful than the State?

This tug of war between Malacanang and the oil players is a test of Executive Power. It is also a power struggle between unscrupulous members of Private Enterprise and the State. Who wins in the end is a matter of Leadership. Mrs. Arroyo should show her mettle in this. And she deserves the People's support.

One up for Mrs. Arroyo! E.O.

Executive Order 839 is one of the most admirable executive orders issued by outgoing president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. If you notice, this is the first time that I referred to her as "president". For the longest time, I just say Madame or Mrs. Arroyo. The E.O. was issued, directing oil firms to freeze oil pump prices to October 15 levels. At this time, only one small player obeyed. The rest are still disobeying the Executive Order.

Now, with the issuance of this E.O., it shows how resolute Mrs. Arroyo is in resolving the problem of the people, especially motorists, on the virtual monopoly exerted by giant oil companies. These oil firms have been fooling us for the longest time, and it is about time for government to act in deference to the welfare of the toiling masses.

How dare these oil firms threaten the Philippine government that they will either shut down their retail selling due to this E.O. or cause a temporary oil shortage ! Ang kapal ng mga mukha ng mga kapitalistang ito! Who are they to terrorize or even threaten the Philippine state?

If these oil companies stop from importing oil products, let the State, as represented by the Energy secretary, trade and import these oil products in the name of protecting the interests of the Filipino People. Time to regulate the oil industry which has been abused by these foreign oil companies and their local lackeys.

Now, Mr. Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes. You have been given a directive by the Chief Executive. I think, this time, you'll be glad to implement this E.O. since this will show that the Philippines will never kowtow to these capitalists who capitalize on the misery of the People.

O, now what Mr. Reyes? Will you or will you not obey your Chief Executive?

Emergency Powers for Arroyo

Energy secretary Angelo Reyes has a very interesting proposition. Since we're now suffering from power shortages in the Visayas and Mindanao, Reyes said that probably by next year, Luzon will also have power shortages. Reyes even made a threat that blackouts would surely affect the conduct of the May 10, 2010 elections.

This, says Reyes, justifies giving emergency powers to Arroyo to solve the potential energy crisis.

What Reyes did not know was that reporters also interviewed the one responsible for distributing electricity and that agency said that we still have excess capacity to avert an energy crisis. Reyes' call was uncalled for.

Obviously, Reyes is praying for something to happen to extend his madame Arroyo's term. Or, maybe, just maybe, Reyes is thinking of the "profits", quick ones at that, from "emergency projects"? Silly me.

Reyes, like the rest of Mrs. Arroyo's gang, is praying for a term extension. Or, Reyes is just cautioning the public of an administration plan to sabotage the forthcoming 2010 elections?

Whatever his motives are, Reyes' call for emergency powers to Mrs. Arroyo is uncalled for. We don't need to give emergency powers to somebody we know would just abuse it.

These administration men are fearing for their lives. They know for a fact that the administration does not have a winnable candidate. They fear of losing their juicy positions and its attendant perks.

This is a concern because these pro-Arroyo men might do something drastic just to stay in power.