ERC chair hit: Blackout threat is ‘blackmail’

A party-list representative on Monday described as a “vain attempt at blackmail” the statement of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chair Agnes Devanadera warning that the Ombudsman’s one-year suspension of all four ERC commissioners could paralyze the agency and lead to blackouts.

In a statement, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said the four commissioners—Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Alfredo Non, Josefina Patricia Magpala-Asirit and Geronimo Sta. Ana—“should be made accountable and not treated as sacred cows.”

Following the Ombudsman’s suspension of the four ERC officials on Thursday, Devanadera said on Friday that the lack of quorum of at least three members in the commission would make it unable to adopt any ruling and perform its functions.

“The brownouts and the blackouts, if [the ERC officials are unable] to act on pending petitions, may happen not just in the provinces but also in Metro Manila,” Devanadera said.

The ERC officials were suspended because of their controversial deferment of the competitive selection process rule, which required electric utilities to hold a bidding for their power supply needs to drive down consumer prices.