ERC chair faces preventive suspension

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson and CEO Monalisa C. Dimalanta | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of ERC / Energy Regulatory Commission

Updated on September 5, 2024 at 4:58 p.m.

The top executive of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has been slapped with a six-month preventive suspension over an issue raised by a consumer group.

READ: P4P urges ERC to veto ‘expensive’ Meralco power deals

In a copy dated Aug. 29, but only issued to media on Thursday, the Ombudsman said it was prompted to suspend the ERC official over a case filed by the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. against the regulator’s failure “to recalculate the rate of Meralco that protects the interest of the public…”

“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…,” a copy of the decision read.

The Ombudsman also noted that the issue “may warrant her removal from the service…”

The decision was signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires.

Dimalanta, however, refused to provide comments as she has yet to receive an official copy of the decision from the Office of the Ombudsman.