GatchalianTinanggap ni Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian ang public apology ni dating Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi matapos na akusahan ng huli ang senador na “had chosen to lend his ear to those adversarial business interests,” kaugnay sa kontrobersiyang sangkot ang Malampaya deal.
“I accept the apology extended to me by former Secretary Alfonso Cusi in the spirit of magnanimity. This underscores the need for all government officials to exercise care in their words, recognizing the impact they have on the public,” pahayag ni Gatchalian matapos na maglathala ng public apology ang dating kalihim.
“As government officials, it is our responsibility to maintain the highest standards of integrity and accountability. I believe that this episode serves as a reminder to all of us in government that our words and deeds should align with the principles of honesty, transparency, and commitment to the welfare of the public,” ayon pa sa senador.
Nag-ugat ang alitan sa pagitan nina Cusi at Gatchalian dahil sa resolusyon ng senador na nagmumungkahi na maghain ng kaso sa Ombudsman at Civil Service Commission (CSC) laban sa dating Energy secretary at iba pang sangkot sa konrobersiyal na pagsasalin ng 45-percent participating interest ng Chevron Philippines sa Malampaya gas project sa Palawan sa kumpanya ni Dennis Uy na Malampaya Philippines. Ayon kay Gatchalian, “lagpak” ang kumpanya ni Uy sa naging ebalwasyon at “financially unqualified” para sa naturang proyekto.
Dahil dito, naglabas ng maanghang na pahayag si Cusi sa mismong website ng Department of Energy (DOE) laban sa senador noong Pebrero 4, 2022.
“It is unfortunate that, in the course of the Committee hearings, Senator Gatchalian had chosen to lend his ear to those adversarial business interests. It was obvious in these hearings that Senator Gatchalian sought to undermine the DOE’s ability to comprehensively evaluate the proposal covering the said sale of shares,” aniya.
“It is evident that the hearings were merely intended to force me out of the office to frustrate and invalidate what are legally binding transactions involving ownership of shares of Malampaya contractors,” ayon pa kay Cusi.
Dahil sa pahayag, nagsampa ng reklamo si Gatchalian sa Office of the City Prosecutor ng Valenzuela, na siya namang naglabas ng resolusyon noong Nobyembre 14, 2022 na nagsasabing nilabag ng dating Energy secretary ang probisyon ng Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).
Agad namang naglabas ng e-warrant of arrest ang Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 75 noong Nobyembre 21, 2022 laban kay Cusi. Samantala, nakapagpiyansa naman si Cusi ng ₱10,000 para sa pansamantalang kalayaan nito noong Nobyembre 25, 2022.