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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Sunday, May 7, 2017
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MANILA – Following the suspension of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairman Jose Vicente Salazar, President Rodrigo Duterte has been urged to conduct a “thorough spring cleaning” of the government agency.
The Office of the President recently ordered the preventive suspension of Salazar for 90 days pending investigation into administrative charges of grave misconduct and dishonesty against him.
He is also facing violations of Republic Act No. 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act and Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“Dishonest officials, questionable contracts, and other anomalies must be investigated and dealt with as soon as possible,” said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, the chairman of the Senate committee on energy.
“The government must ensure that the ERC is exercising its considerable powers for the benefit of the public good. The ERC should not be used as a vehicle to feed the greed of corrupt individuals,” he added.
In November last year, Salazar’s name was dragged into the controversy over the suicide of former director Francisco Villa Jr. In one of his suicide notes, Villa accused the ERC chief of pressuring him to sign illegal documents.
“The controversies surrounding the chairman have cast a long shadow over the integrity of the ERC, a powerful body that serves a crucial function in the regulation of the power sector. Questions on the integrity of Salazar and the ERC as an institution must be immediately resolved to restore stability to the energy regulatory mechanism of government,” Gatchalian said.
At his speech during the opening ceremony of the 27th Philippine Orthopaedic Association Mid-Year Convention in Davao City on May 4, Duterte said he will “eventually remove” Salazar from his post.
“I have fired about 96 to date, mostly guys in the regulatory bodies. I just suspended iyong sa Energy, si Salazar, because of corruption. But I will eventually remove him, iyong lahat sila,” the chief executive said./PN
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