Carlos Jericho L. Petilla remains the secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) until Malacañang finds a “suitable” replacement.
In a text message reply after the meeting between Petilla and President Aquino on Monday afternoon, Petilla said he agreed to remain in his post because he wanted to give the President more time to decide on his replacement.
Last week Petilla announced he submitted his irrevocable resignation letter to the President in March. His resignation was supposed to take effect on April 30.
Petilla recommended DOE Undersecretary Zenaida Monsada as officer in charge of the agency.
“Yes, my stay is extended until he finds an appropriate replacement,” Petilla said.
When asked how long will he delay the implementation of his resignation, Petilla said there were no dates finalized. “No dates for now but we will continue this matter and other energy concerns when he comes back from the trip to US.”
The President is scheduled to visit Canada and US from May 6 to 9.
There are two possible candidates. First, is former Energy Secretary Raphael “Popo” Lotilla and second is current National Transmission Corp. President Roland Bacani.
Lotilla served the agency from March 2005 to July 2007. Prior to his appointment as energy secretary, Lotilla was the president of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM). He also briefly served as PSALM COO before he became president. He also served the National Economic and Development Authority from January 1996 to January 2004 as undersecretary.
Lotilla did not categorically say yes or no if he was interested to replace Petilla.
Bacani, in a separate replay, said he would “seek the guidance of my Boss up there” for any sign. “Please, pray for me,” he added.
Petilla, in his resignation letter, cited “personal and family reasons,” as to why he wanted to quit his job. He, however, did not deny that he is considering seeking for a higher office in 2016.
“I am keeping my options open. What position, if you ask me, I can never say until the last minute that I have made up my mind,” he said.
Petilla had told the President as early as last year that he wants to pursue his personal plans and that his desire to resign from his post was delayed because he had to deal with so many issues in the power sector.
“I couldn’t because there so many issues to deal with. There was the Meralco [Manila Electric Co.] rate hike, power restoration after [Supertyphoon] Yolanda, and the power situation for the summer of 2015,” he said.
In December of 2013, Petilla resigned after he failed to make good on his promise to energize the areas in the Visayas that were badly hit by a tropical storm. President Aquino did not accept his resignation then.
1 comment
Really, they can’t find a replacement? With his kind of performance, even his driver could replace him at the DOE!