ERC board may face criminal charges over power rate hike
Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Board members of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) may face criminal charges for their failure to stop Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) power rate increase, a lawmaker said Wednesday.
Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares cited the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which deems a corrupt practice the causing of undue injury to government or a third party while giving a private party the advantage.
In the case of ERC, the commission approved Meralco’s proposed measure to hike the power rate to the disadvantage of consumers, Colmenares said.
“The conscious approval of ERC for an unjust rate increase (raises) the possibility of the criminal liability of ERC,” the lawmaker who is also a petitioner against the hike said in Filipino.
The criminal raps may affect members of the ERC who approved the power rate increase, Colmenares added.
Article continues after this advertisementAkbayan earlier sent a letter of complaint to the Office of the President calling for the sacking of ERC chair Zenaida Ducut for gross neglect of duty and incompetence.
Article continues after this advertisementColmenares said it is better to focus on reversing the power hike instead of calling for Ducut’s removal.
This is because such move would only indicate that the problem is in the composition of the regulatory body and not the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira), the 13-year old law critics said failed its purpose of bringing down the prices of electricity.
Meralco was accused of colluding with power players to jack up prices amid a power shortfall. The proposed hike was stalled by the Supreme Court due to public outcry.
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