DOJ official named energy regulator OIC

ERC OIC Jesse Hermogenes Andres —Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has chosen a justice undersecretary to serve as officer in charge (OIC) of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) following the preventive suspension of ERC Chair Monalisa Dimalanta.

Jesse Hermogenes Andres, a lawyer and executive director of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), was designated as ERC’s officer in charge, chair and chief executive officer.

Andres will lead the ERC “until a replacement is designated or until otherwise directed,” according to a Sept. 20 memorandum.

READ: Dimalanta leaves ERC, says she will explore legal options

Signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, the memorandum cited the need to “ensure the effective delivery of public services” in appointing Andres as officer in charge of the ERC.

Malacañang’s directive came 11 days after the Ombudsman suspended Dimalanta as ERC chair for six months due to the complaint of the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc.

The complaint alleged that the Manila Electric Co. was allowed to purchase electricity on the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and pass the cost to consumers without the ERC’s approval, a violation of Republic Act No. 9136, or the 2001 Electric Power Industry Reform Act.

Dimalanta has already filed an appeal over her preventive suspension.

In its suspension order, the Ombudsman said the charges against Dimalanta involve grave misconduct, abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the public interest.

An attached agency of the Department of Energy, the ERC is an independent, quasi-judicial regulatory body with broad regulatory and monitoring functions over the Philippines’ electric power industry.

Prior to his appointment, Andres served as executive director of the IACAT, an attached agency of the Department of Justice.

He was also active in the DOJ’s programs on human rights and drug policy reforms.

Andres served as director of Benguet Corp., as independent director of Banco de Oro Savings Bank and BDO Network Bank and the Government Service Insurance System and as chair of the now-defunct GSIS Family Bank.

He was also managing partner of Andres Marcelo Padernal Guerrero & Paras Law Offices and Andres Padernal & Paras Law Offices and as head litigator of the Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas Law Offices.