PANDAMI, Sulu: The heir of the Sulu Sultanate sent a stern warning to the Department of Energy (DoE), saying they will launch a massive rally to be participated in by all stakeholders if the government agency will pursue a oil and gas service contracts in the Sulu Sea. Datu Hafidz Datu Shariful Alawaddin, on Thursday told The Manila Times they have launched protest rally in front of the DoE Central Office in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City last August 19. This was after they learned Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi continued the bidding of 14 service contracts (oil and gas) including the three blocks in Sulu Sea without the proper consultation with the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu. Datu Alawaddin, said the reason of their protests is the inclusion of the service contracts numbers 2, 3, 4,5, 6 and 7 without conducting any public hearings with the affected stakeholders. The DoE should have consulted the people or the constituents of the Bangsamoro, the heirs of the Sulu Sultanate, the local leaders, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao government, Datu Alawaddin said.
