With Malacañang turning a deaf ear to whatever logic or reason they are bringing to the table, the country’s oil industry players have grown skeptical of any “constructive outcome” from the stakeholders’ meeting called by the Department of Justice-Department of Energy (DoJ-DoE) task force Monday supposedly to flesh out issues and concerns relative to the imposition of Executive Order 839.

The scheduled meeting was based on a directive given by Malacañang to the task force to pluck out data and information updates on the oil price freeze policy.

When asked what expectations they have as to Monday’s meeting, many industry players gave “biting comments,” with one of the newer oil companies indicating that “it will just be another media circus.”

Another industry source from one of the major oil firms can’t help it but be sorry for the Palace’s belief that the “market cannot really run dry.”

The oil market is also wrenched with fears as to what could possibly be the next pronouncement from Malacañang.

Judging from latest developments, Flying V vice president Jose Victor Cruz opined that two possible developments could happen to the EO – that it “becomes stronger or the status quo will be maintained.”

Even as the situation turns more chaotic and economically disruptive on a daily basis, some oil companies still gain audacity not to be skewed by what many perceive as “frustrating developments.”

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, for its part, noted that its filing for temporary restraining order (TRO) and petition for the EO’s lifting is the best recourse they can take at this point. After all, it rests upon the Courts to interpret the legalities of a certain policy imposition.

Petron public affairs manager Virginia Ruivivar expects the meeting to just serve as a venue for the joint task force “to get a situationer” on the EO’s imposition.

She indicated though that the oil companies may use this as a venue to once again “try to put forward our case for the lifting of the EO.”

Appearing unperturbed by circumstances, Fernando Martinez of Eastern Petroleum, who also sits as chairman of the Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association Inc. (IPPCA) has this to say: “I’m looking forward to a positive outcome with a win-win situation for stakeholders.”

On Friday, Pilipinas Shell lodged its 78-page petition for a TRO, as it also sought the immediate lifting of EO 839 on grounds of unconstitutionality. Respondents to the case are Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita, representing the Department of Energy-Department of Justice (DoE-DoJ) Joint Task Force, and Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes.