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NAKITAAN ng sapat na dahilan ng Office of the Ombudsman ang reklamo kaugnay ng di umano’y pakikipagsabwatan sa Meralco – hudyat para patawan ng anim na buwang preventive suspension si Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta.
Partikular na tinukoy ng Ombudsman ang alegasyon ng grupong National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. (NASECORE) laban kay Dimalanta noong November 2023.
Batay sa reklamo ng grupo, sinisisi ng Nasecore si Dimalanta ng pangungunsinti sa Manila Electric Company (Meralco) na bumili ng mahal na kuryente sa Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) nang walang pahintulot at pagsang-ayon ng ERC.
Para sa Nasecore, malinaw anilang paglabag sa Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) ang naturang transaksyon.
Inakusahan si Dimalanta ng grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty at conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
“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 which may warrant her removal from the service,” ayon kay Ombudsman Samuel Martires.
Paglilinaw ni Martires, walang sahod na matatanggap ang ERC chairman sa panahon ng suspensyon.
“Wherefore, in consonance with Section 9 of Administrative Order No.17, amending Rule III of Administrative Order No. 07 (Rules of Procedure of the Office of the Ombudsman), and Section 24 of RA 6770, respondent Monalisa C. Dimalanta, Chairperson of the Energy Regulatory Commission, is hereby placed under preventive suspension until the administrative adjudication of this case is terminated, but not to exceed six months, without pay, except when the delay in the disposition of the case is due to her fault, negligence or petition, in which case the period of delay shall not be counted in computing the period of preventive.”
