Pag-aaralan umano ng Department of Justice (DOJ) ang posibleng appointment ni Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla bilang susunod na secretary of Energy.
Ito ang kinumpirma ni Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla bilang reaksiyon kung may epektong legal kung itatalaga si Lotilla sa DOE ,sa kabila na siya ay isang independent director ng Aboitiz Power and Exenor.
“Will have to study PCC rules… And the DOE law of 1992,” ayon kay Remulla.
Una nang ini-nominate ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. si Lotilla para magsilbi sa DOE ng kanyang administrasyon.
Gayunman, sinabi ni Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles na ang appointment ni Lotilla ay depende sa klaripikasyon ng kanyang appointment status bilang isang independent director.
Alinaunod sa Section 8 of RA 7638 o Act Creating the Department of Energy nakasaad , “No officer, external auditor, accountant, or legal counsel of any private company or enterprise primarily engaged in the energy industry shall be eligible for appointment as Secretary within two (2) years from his retirement, resignation, or separation therefrom.”
Samantala, sinabi ni Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra na pag- uusapan ang naturang isyu.
Si Lotilla ay unang nagsilbi bilang Energy Secretary mula 2005-2007 sa ilalim ng termino ni dating Pangulo Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (Jaymel Manuel)
