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Malacañang names DOJ undersecretary to head ERC after Dimalanta’s suspension

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Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<p><span data-teams="true" id="isPasted"><span dir="ltr"></span></span>MANILA — Malacañang has named Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres as the head of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), weeks after the suspension of its previous chair Monalisa Dimalanta, who is facing charges of grave misconduct before the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/9/19/no-change-expected-in-meralco-distribution-rate-suspended-erc-chair-1602">No change expected in Meralco distribution rate: suspended ERC chair</a></div><p>“In order to ensure the continuous and effective delovery of public services, please be informed that Mr. Jesse Hermogenes Andres is hereby designated as officer-in-charge and chief executive officer of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC),” a memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin read.</p><p>The ERC is mandated to promote competition and market development, ensure customer choice and prevent and penalize abuse of market power.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/9/12/erc-chief-urges-ombudsman-to-reconsider-suspension-order-925">ERC chief urges Ombudsman to reconsider suspension order<br/></a></div><p>Andres’ designation is “effective immediately until a replacement is designated or until otherwise directed by this Office,” according to the document signed on September 20, 2024.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/5/ombudsman-suspends-erc-chief-dimalanta-1544">Ombudsman suspends ERC chief Dimalanta<br/></a></div><p>Earlier this month, the Office of the Ombudsman suspended Dimalanta after the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. (Nasecore) lodged a complaint accusing her of grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.</p><p>The Nasecore alleged that Dimalanta enabled the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to directly procure electricity from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and pass charges to consumers without seeking the approval of the ERC board.</p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">In a statement, Dimalanta called Andres’ designation “a welcome development” that would allow the ERC to continue its “statutory duties that are crucial to the Philippine economy.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">She said she is confident that ERC’s commissioners and personnel will support Andres in his role as OIC.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“As we continue to respect and observe the legal processes at the Office of the Ombudsman, I remain hopeful that they will favorably resolve my Motion for Reconsideration…and lift the preventive suspension at the soonest possible time,” Dimalanta also said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ylTS8vMvmRQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Malacañang has named Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres as the head of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) weeks after the suspension of its previous chair Monalisa Dimalanta, who is facing charges of grave misconduct before the Office of the Ombudsman.</p>

Malacañang has named Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres as the head of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) weeks after the suspension of its previous chair Monalisa Dimalanta, who is facing charges of grave misconduct before the Office of the Ombudsman.