(File photo) MANILA - The attempt of senators running in the coming May 2022 polls to torpedo the Malampaya sale to a Filipino businessman "will benefit an Indonesia oligarch," according to columnist Riboerto Tiglao. In his February 16 column published in the Manila Times, Tiglao said Senators Risa Hontiveros, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Vicente Sotto III, are taking advantage of the nation's focus on the May 2022 polls to pressure the Department of Energy (DOE) to cancel the USD560-million sale of the US multinational Chevron Malampaya LLC's 45 percent stake in the Malampaya Gas Field Project to Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy in October 2019. "The three senators have been pressuring, through four different proposed Senate resolutions since November 2020, the Energy Department to cancel the transaction by threatening criminal and administrative charges against them - not just against Energy Secretary Al Cusi but 11 other officials, mostly mid-level, who have had distinguished, impeccable careers at the energy department," Tiglao wrote in his column. The Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) also sold its 45 percent stake to Uy's Udenna Corp. for USD460 million in May last year. Tiglao said the Malampaya Gas Field has been providing the country with natural gas equivalent to a fifth of our energy consumption since 2002, with only 10 percent of its profits going to the government-controlled Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC). "Now that a Filipino tycoon, Dennis Uy, has been able to acquire those 90 percent shares, these three senators shamelessly want to block it, I think, in aid of reelection," he said. Tiglao sees the Senate's moves will only allow an Indonesian oligarch, Antoni Salim, to own 45 percent of the Malampaya shares. "What makes this so abhorrent is that the beneficiary of this plot if it is successful - according to my sources in Malacanang and bolstered by documents as well as the sequence of events - is the Hong Kong-based First Pacific conglomerate, owned 45 percent mainly by the Indonesian oligarch Antoni Salim)," Tiglao said. Tiglao noted that Salim's conglomerate PXP Energy Corp. has lost bid during the October 2019 shares auction by Chevron against Uy's Udenna Corp. subsidiary. "What bolsters that thesis - that it was Salim behind the senators' conspiracy - is the fact that it was not the first time that the Indonesian's corporate vehicle made such attempt to sabotage Uy's acquisition of Malampaya shares," he said. Tiglao said the Hong Kong-based First Pacific group, 45 percent owned by Salim, is on standby to bid for the Chevron shares once Uy's sale of the shares becomes void. "That would mean that from being owned mainly by US and Anglo-Dutch oil multinationals, Malampaya would be owned by an Asia-wide Indonesian-controlled conglomerate," he added. Tiglao said the "despicable attempt" of Gatchalian, Hontiveros, and Sotto to the $560 million sales by Chevron of its 45 percent shares in the Malampaya Gasfield Project to Uy "was intended to benefit Indonesian magnate Anthoni Salim's First Pacific conglomerate." Tiglao slammed the senators for preferring an Indonesian tycoon rather than a Filipino to own the country's biggest natural gas producer Malampaya. The DOE earlier said the inquiries in the Senate on the sale of shares of SPEX and Chevron to Uy's subsidiaries is causing delay to the work program of the consortium. (PNA) }
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Manila , Philippines , Philippine , Benguet , Indonesia , Netherlands , Malacanang , Antique , Indonesian , Filipino , Dutch , Riboerto Tiglao , Sherwin Gatchalian , Risa Hontiveros , Chevron Malampaya , Department Of Energy , Energy Corp , Chevron , Philippine National Oil Co , Energy Department , Uy Udenna Corp , Manila Times , Senators Risa Hontiveros , Vicente Sotto , Malampaya Gas Field Project , Davao City Based , Energy Secretary Al Cusi , Malampaya Gas Field , Philippine National Oil , Antoni Salim , Hong Kong Based First Pacific , Asia Wide Indonesian Controlled , Malampaya Gasfield Project , Anthoni Salim , First Pacific , Ile Photo Manila The Attempt Of Senators Running In Coming May 2022 Polls To Torpedo Malampaya Sale Toa Filipino Businessman Quot Will Benefit An Indonesia Oligarch , Uot According To Columnist Riboerto Tiglao In His February 16 Column Published The Manila Times , Iglao Said Senators Risa Hontiveros , Nd Vicente Sotto Iii , Re Taking Advantage Of The Nation 39s Focus On May 2022 Polls To Pressure Department Energy Doe Cancel Usd560 Million Sale Us Multinational Chevron Malampaya Llc 45 Percent Stake In Gas Field Project Davao City Based Businessman Dennis Uy October 2019 Quot Three Senators Have Been Pressuring , Hrough Four Different Proposed Senate Resolutions Since November 2020 , He Energy Department To Cancel The Transaction By Threatening Criminal And Administrative Charges Against Them Not Just Secretary Al Cusi But 11 Other Officials , Ostly Mid Level , Ho Have Had Distinguished , Mpeccable Careers At The Energy Department , Uot Tiglao Wrote In His Column The Shell Philippines Explorationbv Spex Also Sold Its 45 Percent Stake To Uy 39s Udenna Corp For Usd460 Million May Last Year Said Malampaya Gas Field Has Been Providing Country With Natural Equivalent Toa Fifth Of Our Energy Consumption Since 2002 , Ith Only 10 Percent Of Its Profits Going To The Government Controlled Philippine National Oil Co Pnoc Quot Now Thata Filipino Tycoon , Dennis Uy , As Been Able To Acquire Those 90 Percent Shares , Hese Three Senators Shamelessly Want To Block It , Di Think , N Aid Of Reelection , Uot He Said Tiglao Sees The Senate 39s Moves Will Only Allow An Indonesian Oligarch , O Own 45 Percent Of The Malampaya Shares Quot What Makes This So Abhorrent Is That Beneficiary Plot If It Successful According To My Sources In Malacanang And Bolstered By Documents As Well Sequence Events Hong Kong Based First Pacific Conglomerate , Wned 45 Percent Mainly By The Indonesian Oligarch Antoni Salim , Uot Tiglao Said Noted That Salim 39s Conglomerate Pxp Energy Corp Has Lost Bid During The October 2019 Shares Auction By Chevron Against Uy Udenna Subsidiary Quot What Bolsters Thesis It Was Behind Senators 39 Conspiracy Is Fact Not First Time Indonesian Corporate Vehicle Made Such Attempt To Sabotage Acquisition Of Malampaya , Uot He Said Tiglao The Hong Kong Based First Pacific Group , 5 Percent Owned By Salim , S On Standby To Bid For The Chevron Shares Once Uy 39s Sale Of Becomes Void Quot That Would Mean From Being Owned Mainly By Us And Anglo Dutch Oil Multinationals , Alampaya Would Be Owned By An Asia Wide Indonesian Controlled Conglomerate , Uot He Added Tiglao Said The Quot Despicable Attempt Of Gatchalian , Fontiveros , Nd Sotto To The 560 Million Sales By Chevron Of Its 45 Percent Shares In Malampaya Gasfield Project Uy Quot Was Intended Benefit Indonesian Magnate Anthoni Salim 39s First Pacific Conglomerate Tiglao Slammed Senators For Preferring An Tycoon Rather Thana Filipino Own Country Biggest Natural Gas Producer Doe Earlier Said Inquiries Senate On Sale Spex And Subsidiaries Is Causing Delay Work Program Consortium Pna ,
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