Ombudsman suspends ERC chair for 6 months

The Office of the Ombudsman has placed Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta under a six-month preventive suspension for allowing Manila Electric Company to purchase electricity on the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and passing the cost to consumers without the approval of the regulatory body.

The anti-graft body issued the order based on the complaint filed by the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. (Nasecore), which said Dimalanta's action is an alleged violation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

“The evidence on record shows that the guilt of respondent Dimalanta is strong and the charges against her involve grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best Interest of the service which may warrant her removal from the service,” the Ombudsman said.  

It added Dimalanta’s continued stay in office may prejudice the complaint filed against her.  

“To prevent her from further committing malfeasance and/or misfeasance in office, she is hereby placed under preventive suspension during the period of investigation but not more than six months pursuant to Section 24 of Republic Act No. 6770,” the Ombudsman said.  

“Wherefore, in consonance with Section 9 of Administrative Order No.17, amending Rule III of Administrative Order No. 07 (Rules of Procedure of the Office of the Ombudsman), and Section 24 of RA 6770, respondent Monalisa C. Dimalanta, Chairperson of the Energy Regulatory Commission, is hereby placed under preventive suspension until the administrative adjudication of this case is terminated, but not to exceed six months, without pay, except when the delay in the disposition of the case is due to her fault, negligence or petition, in which case the period of delay shall not be counted in computing the period of preventive,” it  added. 

Sought for comment, Dimalanta said: "We have not received a copy of the Order so we cannot comment at this time.—with Ted Cordero/AOL, GMA Integrated News