In a recent TV Patrol interview, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta addressed her irrevocable resignation submitted to the Office of the President on Monday, clarifying the circumstances surrounding her decision.

“Magtatatlong taon na rin naman ako dito sa ERC. Madami na rin naman tayong na-introduce na mga reporma. Parang bawat araw ko dito, I made sure it counted. So, madami na rin tayong na-accomplish. Siguro, time na para mailipat  na yung baton para sa kung sino man yung paglilipatan ng appointing authority, (“I’ve been with ERC for almost 3 years already. We’ve already introduced a lot of reforms. I made sure that it counted every day. We’ve accomplished a lot. Maybe it’s time to move the baton to whoever will be moved by the appointing authority”), Dimalanta stated. 

Dimalanta addressed speculations about her resignation, amidst a series of recent courtesy resignations, including that of Department of Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla and other Cabinet members as part of President Marcos’ administration reshuffle.

Dimalanta makes it clear that she submitted an “irrevocable resignation,” and not a courtesy resignation. “Yun po naman talaga ang pinandigan natin, na ang termino ng chairman pati na rin lahat ng members ng komisyon sa ERC ay fixed term, so hindi ito sakop nung courtesy resignation (That’s what we really argued that the term of the chairmen and all the members of the commission in the ERC, is a fixed term. So it is not included in the courtesy resignation),” Dimalanta said.

Section 38 of the EPIRA (Republic Act No. 9136) mandates a fixed seven-year term for ERC commissioners, protecting them from being forced to submit courtesy resignations. This fixed term ensures the ERC’s independence, exempting commissioners from political pressures to resign.

“Pero, may realidad din tayo na kung kailangan talaga magpalit, bibigyan natin ng hand yung appointing authority na magpalit. Kaya yung finile ko po ay irrevocable resignation, hindi courtesy resignation. Legally, may pagkakaiba po yun. Hindi natin nilagay sa alanganin iyong appointing authority.. Hindi rin tayo nag-set ng precedent dito sa ERC na saklaw tayo ng courtesy resignation (“However, we also have a reality that if a change is truly necessary, we will give the appointing authority the opportunity to make that change. That’s why what I filed was an irrevocable resignation, not a courtesy resignation… ensuring that the institution’s integrity against courtesy resignations is upheld, and we don’t weaken that. Until the last minute, that’s what I truly protected),”  Dimalanta adds.

There is no official word yet on whether President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has accepted Dimalanta’s resignation or if further changes at the ERC are planned.

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