Medialdea orders 90-day suspension of ERC chief Salazar

DAVAO CITY – Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea ordered the suspension of Energy Regulatory Commission chair Jose Vicente Salazar, who was slapped with about half a dozen administrative charges.

In an order issued on Tuesday, a copy of which was sent to reporters here, Medialdea placed Salazar under a 90-day preventive suspension effective immediately.

The executive secretary said the suspension was aimed at preventing Salazar from influencing the outcome of the cases.

Salazar was facing administrative charges for such alleged offenses as serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, gross insubordination, violations of the Government Procurement Act, and violation of the Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Last year, Salazar was publicly accused of committing anomaly by then ERC director Francisco Jose Villa Jr.

Villa had committed suicide.

Salazar denied the charges against him and blamed what he said were influential individuals who have vested interests in the energy sector.

But Medialdea said “examination of the records reveals that there exists a prima facie case against Chairman Salazar on the above-stated charges”.

Salazar was given 10 days to file his comment or written explanation on the charges filed against him.