Abusadong oil traders pumaldo sa krisis – Gatchalian

MANILA, Philippines – Sinasamantala ng mga abusadong oil trader ang paldo-paldong kita mula sa lumulobong presyo ng produktong petrolyo sa bansa, ayon kay Senador Sherwin Gatchalian.

Sa pagdinig ng Senate Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (Protect) committee ng Senado nitong Huwebes, Marso 26, sinabi ni Gatchalian na napakabilis ng pagtaas ng presyo ng langis sa bansa batay sa Mean of Platts Singapore (Mops).

“The changes in MOPS and local gasoline prices really mimic each other. The difference is small, but in terms of timing, they are almost identical,” sinabi ni Gatchalian, chairman ng komite.

“Next, for diesel, it’s the same. The timing is also almost identical,” dagdag pa niya, habang ipinapakita sa komite ang pagkukumpara sa Mops at local oil prices.

Bagamat wala umano siyang inaakusahan ng profiteering o hoarding, iginiit ni Gatchalian ang pangangailangan na siguruhin sa publiko na walang mananamantala sa sitwasyon.

“I hope not, I hope no one is taking advantage of this situation. But I can guarantee you that after this exercise, there will be windfall profits—whether from traders abroad, local traders, or oil companies. And that’s the sign that someone really did take advantage of this situation,” sinabi pa ni Gatchalian.

Ipinaalala ng senador sa Department of Energy (DOE) ang kapangyarihan nito na tingnan ang lahat ng pricing mechanism sa oras ng krisis.

“Use that power and submit to us an analysis on whether enterprises are abusing the situation, because based on my observations, there are definitely those who will take advantage of it,” dagdag ni Gatchalian.

“Once in a blue moon lang to nangyayari, once in a lifetime lang pwede silang kumita ng tiba-tiba bakit hindi nila gagawin? Pero kawawa naman tayo.”

Siniguro naman ni Rino Abad, director ng Oil Industry Management Bureau ng DOE sa komite na minomonitor ng ahensya hindi lamang ang Mops kundi ang galaw ng domestic oil prices.

Sa kabila nito, sinabi ni Gatchalian na ang monitoring ng pamahalaan ay hindi lamang sa presyo kundi maging sa pagmonitor sa posibleng pang-aabuso at profiteering.

“We’re doing that extra effort…” sagot naman ni Abad. RNT/JGC