ERC: Dimalanta, legal team studying legal remedies

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) yesterday said its suspended chairperson, Monalisa Dimalanta, and her lawyers are studying legal remedies.

The ERC said its Office of the Executive Director officially received yesterday the Ombudsman’s order suspending Dimalanta for six months without pay.

It also said Dimalanta has yet to be provided a copy of the complaint against her.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires’ order, dated August 27 and was released just last week, was based on an administrative complaint filed by the National Association of Electric Consumers for Reforms Inc. (Nasecore).

The ERC assured the public all its operations will continue “to the extent possible and as required by the exigencies of service.”

“The order does contain some allegations of the complaint, without providing, however, any statement as to the evidence submitted by complainant that became the basis for the issuance of the preventive suspension order. Chairperson Dimalanta and her lawyers are studying the matter in order to take all available legal remedies given the circumstances,” the ERC said.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Philippine Exporters Confederation, and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines expressed support to the ERC and Dimalanta.

The groups said that since the appointment of Dimalanta as chairperson, “the ERC has become more active in addressing issues in the industry, acknowledging the important role of energy and power to attract investments, improving the productivity of local industries and enterprises and enhancing the country’s economic competitiveness.”

The business groups added that the ERC, under the leadership of Dimalanta, “has taken a pro-active stance in its rate and service regulation functions, in promoting competitive operations of the electric power industry and education campaign for consumer protection.”