Energy chief Angelo Reyes quits post — Palace

(Update – 8:07 a.m.) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has formally accepted the resignation of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, who is currently nominated to represent the party-list group 1-Utak in the May 10 polls. 1-Utak Rep. Vigor Mendoza confirmed to GMANews.TV that Reyes is the first nominee of the party-list group representing the transport sector—the reason why the Cabinet official quit his post. Mendoza said Reyes was invited to join 1-Utak in January this year, and was chosen by the party-list’s executive committee to be the first nominee because of his “advocacy for transport groups." “He has long been an advocate for transport groups, although this has not been publicized. What we see in the party is totally different from what the public perceives," he said. Mendoza likewise denied allegations that Reyes is a protector of oil companies—whose relentless price increases in past months have incurred the ire of transport groups—saying the former Cabinet official himself has encouraged them to “enhance competition in the ground." Reyes admitted on March 1 that he was studying an offer to represent party-list transport group 1-UTAK. (See: DOE's Reyes studying offer to represent party-list group) New OIC In a press briefing, Press Secretary Crispulo Icban said Energy Undersecretary and concurrent Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) president Jose Ibazeta will fill the vacancy as officer-in-charge. Under Executive Order 827, the senior deputy commissioner is mandated to perform the commissioner’s function in the latter’s absence. Icban said Ibazeta's appointment was made before the election ban took effect — as defined under Article VII, Section 15 of the Constitution — but was only announced on Friday.— with Andreo Calonzo and Aie Balagtas See/RSJ/JV, GMANews.TV