CA temporarily halts suspension order vs 4 ERC execs

The Court of Appeals. (Photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The Court of Appeals (CA) has stopped for 60 days the implementation of the one year suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against four commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

In a resolution dated Feb. 9, 2018, the CA’s 9th Division through Associate Justice Mariflor Punzalan Castillo issued the temporary restraining order against the suspension of ERC Commissioners Alfredo Non, Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Josefina Patricia Asirit, and Geronimo Sta. Ana.

The appellate court said the restraining order was issued “so as not to impair public service” because Malacañang has yet to appoint a replacement to the suspended officials.

The ERC commissioners were suspended after they were found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, aggravated by simple misconduct and simple neglect of duty for allegedly allowing electric utilities like Manila Electric Company to forgo the bidding of their power supply requirements at the public’s expense. /jpv

READ: Ombudsman suspends all 4 ERC commissioners for one year