Kabataan party-list told to propose oil pricing reforms instead of criticizing

Malacañang has pushed back against accusations from Kabataan party-list that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is a "puppet" of big corporations, urging the group to focus instead on legislative work, particularly on crafting a law to regulate oil prices.

- By ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

"Sana medyo maliwanagan po ang Kabataan party-list kung ano po ba talaga ang ginagawa ng Pangulo (I hope the Kabataan party-list becomes more enlightened about what the President is actually doing)," Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Thursday, June 26.

Castro also responded to the group's allegation that Marcos has allowed the prices of oil to increase. She cited the explanation of Department of Energy OIC Undersecretary Sharon Garin that prices are dictated by global market forces under the current Oil Deregulation Law.

With this, the Palace Press Officer urged Kabataan party-list to propose oil pricing reforms instead of just criticizing the administration.

"Kung nais po talaga na madiktahan ang presyo ng krudo, mas maganda pong gumawa na agad ng batas at magbalangkas na rin ang Kabataan party-list patungkol po dito (If they really want to control oil prices, it would be better for Kabataan party-list to start drafting a law on this matter)," she said.

"Para kung meron na pong batas, ay mai-implement at mae-enforce po ng Executive department (Once there's a law, then the Executive department can implement and enforce it)," she added.