The Office of the Ombudsman has issued a six-month preventive suspension order against Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta for allowing Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) to buy electricity from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and pass the costs to consumers without regulatory approval.
The suspension stemmed from a complaint filed by the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. (NASECORE), which accused the ERC chair of violating the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
“The evidence on record shows that the guilt of respondent Dimalanta is strong and the charges against her involve grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service which may warrant her removal from the service,” Ombudsman Samuel Martinez said in the order dated Aug 20, 2024.
It added that Dimalanta’s continued tenure could interfere with the investigation.
The Ombudsman said to keep Dimalanta from perpetrating further acts of misconduct and/or dishonesty in her position, she will be put on preventive suspension for a term of six months throughout the investigation.
The preventive suspension is in line with Section 24 of Republic Act No. 6770 and the rules of procedure governing the Office of the Ombudsman, the order added.
Dimalanta, when asked for a comment, said that she has not yet received a copy of the Order.
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