KIKO PANGILINAN TO OIL COMPANIES: MAAWA NAMAN KAYO SA MAMAMAYANG PILIPINO!

Independent Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan today criticized the big oil companies as petroleum prices continue to soar.

"These oil companies should be sensitive to the plight of the public," said Pangilinan. "Marami ang nawawalan ng trabaho dahil sa global economic crisis. Dadagdag pa itong pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo sa poproblemahin nila. Wala naman katiyakan na tama ang basehan ng mga kumpanyang yan sa pagtaas nila ng presyo."

Shell and Petron raised prices of their diesel by P1.50 per liter, and kerosene and gasoline by P1 per liter. Chevron followed suit Wednesday noon Two weeks earlier, oil firms had already increased their petroleum prices by a total of 80 centavos per liter. Shell released a statement saying these recent hikes were consistent with the increase in prices in the international market.

"Kung tutuusin kulang pa ang binaba ng presyo ng mga langis nung nag-rollback sila, kaya wala silang karapatang sabayan ang pagtaas sa world market," added Pangilinan.

The Independent Senator called for transparency from oil firms to ensure that increase in prices of petroleum products are justified. "The public deserves an explanation. One that they can swallow. Sa ngayon, wala tayong katiyakan kung kailan nila inaangkat ang mga langis. Talaga bang mataas na ang presyo sa world market noong bilhin nila ang langis? Paano natin matitiyak na hindi nila nilalamangan ang publiko?"