Solons back Ombudsman suspension of ERC execs

Several House members on Tuesday lauded the Ombudsman’s decision to again suspend four officials of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for neglect of duty on electric bill deposits that were allegedly misused by power distributor Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, in a statement, said the new suspension order bolstered the earlier findings of a House probe that found irregularities in seven power supply agreements (PSAs) that Meralco entered into with its affiliated generating firms.

The Ombudsman first ordered the suspension of Commissioners Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Alfredo Non, Josefina Patricia Magpala-Asirit and Geronimo Sta. Ana for a year for not acting on the PSA deals that were without bidding.

The second suspension order for three months on the same officials was for the alleged misuse of bill deposits.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, chair of the House committee on good government and public accountability, which investigated the PSAs, said it might be time for the four commissioners to resign.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat also said the commissioners might just opt to resign as they would not be able to do their job anyway.