By Danessa Rivera (The
Philippine Star) | Updated April 19, 2017 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - Trouble is
brewing at the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) after four commissioners
protested appointments issued by ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar while he was
on official leave.
ERC commissioners Alfredo Non,
Josefina Magpale-Asirit, Gloria Yap-Taruc and Geronimo Sta. Ana filed a
memorandum objecting to the reconstitution of the organization as ordered by
Salazar.
The four claimed the reconstitution
should be done by the entire ERC.
Salazar is reportedly under
investigation for making the appointment, a move allegedly meant to deceive
Malacañang. He has not reportedly been showing up at the office since last
week.
Among the orders that the
commissioners objected to were the appointment of ERC-Davao City chief Ronaldo
Gomez as officer-in-charge (OIC) executive director, reconstitution of
PSA-Group and reassignment of directors and OICs.
In the memorandum, the commissioners
objected to the re-assignment and designation of certain officials performing
critical operational functions.
They said the move would affect
their regulatory duties.
This follows a provision of
Executive Order 172, which provides that the ERC board has the power to appoint
the entire complement of the agency, including the executive director post.
In an interview, Asirit said they
filed a protest memo calling for a special meeting to discuss the appointments.
And while the orders are still being
challenged, the commissioners called for a general assembly and ordered
officials and personnel not to implement orders issued by the Office of the
Chairman.
Salazar appointed Gomez
officer-in-charge, giving him signing authority as chairman and chief executive
officer, while he is on leave from April 9 to 25.
But the Office of the Executive
Secretary designated commissioner Sta. Ana as OIC.
“I was told the one coming from
Malacañang should prevail,” Sta. Ana said.
For his part, Non said the
appointment of two OICs is creating confusion within the ERC.
“The designation of the existing
executive director is not yet resolved because we are questioning his
appointment. His designation as OIC executive director is being questioned and
yet he is still being appointed as OIC in his place,” he said, referring to
Gomez.
Sources said the four commissioners
have raised the issue before the Professional Regulation Commission and
Department of Energy.
“Formal filings have yet to be
made,” Asirit said.
The STAR tried but failed to get Salazar’s comment on the matter.
Earlier, corruption issues rocked
the ERC after former director Francisco Jose Villa Jr. committed suicide in
November 2016.
Villa’s sister, journalist Charie
Villa, said her brother was being pressured to approve procurement contracts
and hire consultants without public bidding.
Villa cited three separate
handwritten notes made by her late brother in August.
The alleged corruption and death of
director Villa were investigated in both the Senate and the House.
Lawmakers called for the termination
of the probe last month. – With Edith Regalado
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