Published
November 22, 2016, 10:00 PM By Genalyn D. Kabiling
Concerned Energy
Regulatory Commission (ERC) officials must “voluntarily” resign or else the
government would take “legal remedies” such as placing them under preventive
suspension pending a corruption probe, a Palace official said yesterday.
Presidential
Communications Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag made the statement after the
ERC officials have defied President Duterte’s demand to resign over corruption
allegations.
“We understand that the
ERC officials have fixed terms of office and that’s the very reason why the
President is exercising his moral suasion for these officials to voluntarily
resign,” Banaag said in a Palace press briefing.
“May pamantayan ang
ating Pangulo kung paano ang pamumuno ng ahensya and he has been clear
about fighting on corruption,” she added.
If the ERC officials
cling to their posts, Banaag said: “There are other remedies, investigation is
one, preventive suspension, and the President even had raised other options.”
“Once he arrives we
will see how these options will push through,” she added.
The President earlier
asked for the resignation of ERC officials following the suicide of an official
allegedly pressured to sign irregular contracts. Duterte also said he would ask
Congress to either disband or reorganize the ERC to eradicate the alleged
systemic corruption in the agency.
Some ERC commissioner
however said they would not step down and instead sought a dialogue with the
President to explain their position.
Banaag said she was not
aware if the Palace has already received the formal request from the ERC for a
meeting with the President.
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