Press Release
September 18, 2008

KIKO DEMANDS BIG 3 TO ROLL BACK PRICES,
REITERATES CALL FOR PUBLIC BOYCOTT

Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today strongly urged the public to boycott the three biggest oil companies for their "obvious collusion" to delay lowering oil prices amid the dramatic plummeting of international costs.

"BIstado na sila. Nung nagtataas sila ng presyo, ang dahilan nila ay ang biglaang pagtaas ng presyo ng langis sa pandaigdigang merkado. Bakit ngayong biglaan at nakagugulat din ang pagbaba ng presyo sa pandaigdigang merkado, hindi nila magawang magbaba din ng biglaan? Hindi nila pwede sabihing hindi nila kayang gawin iyun. Masyado naman silang gahaman. If the small players can instantly lower prices to adhere to the world market, why can't they? They should stop making excuses and just do what is right," said Kiko.

Meanwhile, the Big 3 found an unlikely ally in Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Angelo Reyes who denied two days ago that they comprise a cartel controlling oil prices.

"Kelan pa siya naging spokesman ng Shell, Petron at Caltex? Bakit siya ang nagsasalita para sa kanila? Hindi ba dapat siya ang boses ng taumbayan sa usaping ito? How can he explain the staggered oil price decrease when oil has gone down considerably?" asked Kiko.

Secretary Reyes reacted to issues regarding oil prices during Tuesday's House Committee on Appropriations hearing on the DOE's proposed budget for 2009. He further rejected suggestions to amend the Oil Deregulation Law which is often linked to the unrestrained price hikes experienced in the last couple of months.

"People should not take this sitting down," said Kiko, adding that "the Big 3 cannot exert its influence on oil prices if we proactively show our defiance."

Two weeks ago, the Senator encouraged the public, headed by consumer and transport groups, to boycott the Big 3. "Simple lang naman iyan. Kung hindi tayo masaya sa ginagawa nila, doon tayo sa maliliit na kumpanya bumili ng gasolina natin. The Big 3 cannot continue to ignore us. Kung ayaw nilang makinig,tayo na dapat ang mismong gumawa ng paraan para mapuwersa silang making sa ating hinaing. Iboykot natin sila!"

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