Palace reinstates suspended ERC chief

MANILA, Philippines — The suspension of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chief Monalisa Dimalanta has been lifted, prompting the Malacañang to reinstate her. 

In August, Dimalanta was placed under preventive suspension by the Ombudsman due to allegations of grave misconduct,  grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.  

In a letter from the Office of the President released on Thursday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin informed Dimalanta that the Ombudsman’s suspension order had been lifted before the suspension period ended.

Dimalanta was “hereby reinstated as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Regulatory Commission immediately upon receipt hereof,” the letter read. 

The ERC separately confirmed Dimalanta’s reinstatement. Citing the Ombudsman's decision, the ERC said there was a thorough evaluation of case records. 

“This Office finds that the ground which justifies the continued imposition of preventive suspension no longer exists. Therefore, the preventive suspension is no longer necessary,” the Ombudsman said. 

The ERC said it welcomed the decision of the Ombudsman. 

“With Chairperson Dimalanta's return, the ERC continues its commitment to fulfilling its mandate as the country's energy regulator. The Commission likewise assures that all operations of the Commission will remain unhampered and will continue to function to the extent possible and as required by the exigencies of service," the commission said.

Dimalanta has expressed that she was grateful for the decision, adding that she has already returned to the ERC on Thursday. She has already begun catching up with what has happened in the ERC while she was gone. 

“I feel energized to work even harder to implement the reforms we started,” she said.