MANILA – The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the preventive suspension of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chair Monalisa Dimalanta, arising from a compliant filed by the the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. (Nasecore).
In its complaint, Nasecore alleged that Dimalanta allowed the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to purchase electricity from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and pass the charges on to consumers without obtaining the necessary approval from the ERC, allegedly in violation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
"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," Ombudsman Samuel Martinez said in an order dated August 20, 2024.
"(H)er continued stay in office may prejudice the case filed against her " the Ombudsman said adding that the preventive suspension will stay "until the administrative adjudication of this case is terminated, but not to exceed six months without pay," the order read. (PNA)
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