Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson and CEO Monalisa C. Dimalanta | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of ERC / Energy Regulatory Commission
MANILA, Philippines — Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chair Monalisa Dimalanta said on Friday that she will file a motion for reconsideration on the preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against her.
The Ombudsman has ordered a six-month preventive suspension on Dimalanta for alleged neglect of duty in relation to a complaint filed by a consumer interest group.
READ: Ombudsman suspends ERC chair Dimalanta for 6 months
In a radio interview, Dimalanta said she was not taken aback by the complaint as it was something she might face as a public servant.
However, she is surprised for not receiving an official copy of the complaint or the Ombudsman order yet.
“Siguro ang ikinagulat ko lang, hindi kasi tayo nakatanggap ng complaint. Up to this day, wala pa rin akong natatanggap na copy ng complaint officially at wala rin akong kopya nung order pa except ‘yung mga naipamahagi sa media,” she said over a Radyo 630 interview.
(Maybe what surprised me was that we didn’t receive any complaint. Up to this day, I still haven’t officially received a copy of the complaint, and I also don’t have a copy of the order yet, except for what has been shared with the media.)
“Once we get that, ang balak ko ay magfa-file tayo ng motion for reconsideration. Kung kailangan i-apela, i-aapela natin,” Dimalanta also said.
(Once we get that, my plan is to file a motion for reconsideration. If we need to appeal, we will appeal.)
The Ombudsman’s order, dated August 29 and released to the media on Thursday, stemmed from Dimalanta’s alleged involvement in the Manila Electric Company’s purchase of electricity on the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and passing the cost to consumers without the approval from the ERC.
Dimalanta purportedly committed grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, and gross neglect of duty and conduct.