Palace orders ERC to enforce suspension order on officials

MANILA - Malacañang has ordered the Energy Regulatory Commission to implement a suspension order against top officials who allegedly favored Meralco by excluding the power distributor from competitive bidding rules.

Former ERC chairperson Jose Vicente Salazar, who has been dismissed from the service, should be fined the amount equivalent to his 6 months salary, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said in a memorandum to the ERC.

The document was addressed to Salazar's successor, ERC Chairperson Agnes Devanadera.

• Ombudsman suspends ERC officials

• ERC chair dismissed over corruption

The Ombudsman last December said ERC Commissioners Alfredo Non, Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Josefina Patricia Asirit, and Geronimo Sta. Ana were administratively liable for "conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service aggravated by simple misconduct and simple neglect of duty."

"There is sufficient evidence that respondents gave unwarranted benefits to Meralco and other companies by exempting them from the coverage of CSP requirement which was already in effect after 06 November 2015," read the Ombudsman resolution.

The CSP or the competitive selection process is meant to “elicit the best price” for consumers.