Updated December 3, 2016, 11:45 AM By Myrna M. Velasco
Davao City – Senate Committee on
Energy Chairman Sherwin T. Gatchalian is recommending that Energy
Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairman Jose Vicente B. Salazar take a leave of
absence while investigation is ongoing on the allegations hurled against the
regulatory body.
“My personal view is, to hasten the
investigation conducted by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), COA
(Commission on Audit) and others, and also to relieve pressure from the
institution, I think out of delicadeza, he (Salazar) can take a leave so
there’s complete freedom when it comes to the investigation,” the lawmaker told
reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Electricity Summit (PES) 2016
here.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has
more muted stance on the issue, but when pressed by the media, he said “if he
(Salazar) will ask for my advice, then I will recommend it (leave of absence).”
He added “that is a prudent thing to
do to give way to an independent investigation. We already asked NBI to
investigate and we believe the investigation is ongoing.”
Cusi similarly recognizes the vital
role of the ERC when it comes to regulating the restructured electricity sector
– and that its abolition could redound to further delays in rulings and in
laying down regulatory frameworks that shall advance reforms in the electricity
sector.
Gatchalian, meanwhile, qualified
that his stand is for the ERC to be maintained as an institution, noting that
the recommended leave will just be to ensure that the probe process of various
agencies could be done neutrally and without question of influence.
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