Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chair Jose Vicente Salazar is suspended once more, this time for four months, due to insubordination.
Communications Secretary Marie Banaag announced this in a press conference on Thursday, per the Sun Star.
“On ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar, the Office of the Executive Secretary, in his decision dated August 2, 2017, finds Energy Regulatory Commission chairman and CEO Jose Vicente Salazar guilty of insubordination,” Banaag said.
“Thus, Mr. Salazar is meted out the penalty of suspension for a period of four months without pay.”
The new suspension order was imposed on the ERC official after he assigned Ronaldo Gomez as ERC’s OIC executive director even after Malacanang assigned Commissioner Geronimo Sta. Ana as OIC.
“There was a time the Office of the Executive Secretary endorsed or appointed OIC, Mr. Sta. Ana. And then after that, Commissioner Salazar appointed Atty. Gomez for his leave of absence. So this is the insubordination part,” Banaag said.
Salazar was earlier placed on a three-month preventive suspension amid pending administrative charges last May.
