Graft charges filed vs Lopez

Secretary Gina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is facing graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly asking the Department of Energy (DOE) to give the $100-million power plant service contract to a private company, EcoGlobal, Inc. (EI) in Zamboanga City.

Speaking for the complainant Viena Tanada, a buinesswoman, Lester Pascua said Lopez could be held liable for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for having sought to influence the DOE to award the contract to EI and for travelling to France with all expenses paid by the company.

As she herself admitted in a media interview, Pascua said, Lopez had texted DOE Director Mario Marasigan, head of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau, last September to award the power plant contract to EI.

Pascua said Lopez reportedly texted Marasigan without the knowledge of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Lopez, however, said she assisted EI to do solar energy in Zamboanga to help solve the current power shortage.

She explained that she called up Marasigan to facilitate the solar energy project and give relief to local residents who have been suffering from frequent power interruption.

Pascua revealed that EI paid for the trip of Lopez and her party of five to France. He said the Lopez group left for Paris on October 2, or a day before the DOE awarded the renewable energy service contract (RESC) to EI.

Pascua, citing the complaint, said EI CEO Jean-Philippe Henry issued a letter of guarantee last Sept. 29 to the French embassy in Manila, pledging to pay Lopez party’s “airfare, hotel accommodations, insurance coverage, and travel allowances for the entire duration of their business trip.”