MANILA – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) complies with the Constitution and other laws, its president said Tuesday, following lawmakers' claims that foreign nationals had been appointed there as executives.

A certain Wen Bo and Liu Zhiaoquiang previously held "technical," not managerial positions, the NGCP said in a statement.

Both foreign nationals, whose nationalities were not directly disclosed, left the country in 2018 and 2015, respectively, NGCP president and CEO Anthony Almeda said.

Sen. Richard Gordon on Monday said Bo has been signing transmission contracts in behalf of the NGCP since 2011.

"The company has always been diligent in implementing its board and management directives. It does so with utmost regard for the law, and other rules and regulations," the statement said.

Almeda added that there were only 4 directors from the State Grid Corp of China and that they “do not perform executive or management functions" at NGCP.

Filipinos exclusive control the country’s power transmission infrastructure, the NGCP said in November.

The State Grid Corp of China has a 40-percent stake in NGCP, while Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp and Calaca High Power Corp, both from the Philippines, hold the remaining 60 percent.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday called for a review of NGCP’s franchise since the designation of a foreign national as its second highest official, if proven, violated the Constitution.

The NGCP is the private consortium that operates the power grid, which connects power plants to distribution utilities. A government firm, the National Transmission Co, owns the grid infrastructure.