MANILA, Philippines- Ibinalik na ng Malakanyang si Monalisa Dimalanta bilang chairperson ng Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
Sinabi ni Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cesar Chavez na ayon sa tanggapan ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, ibinalik si Dimalanta sa kanyang posisyon dahil binawi na ng Office of the Ombudsman ang preventive suspension na ipinalabas laban sa kanya.
“Pursuant to the 22 October 2024 Order of the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) in OMB-C-A-JUL-24-0066, entitled “National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms, Inc. (NASECORE). vs. Monalisa C. Dimalanta”, lifting the 20 August 2024 order of preventive suspension issued against respondent Monalisa C. Dimalanta, the latter is hereby reinstated as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Regulatory Commission immediately upon receipt hereof,” ang sinabi ni Bersamin sa isang memorandum na may petsang Oktubre 30.
Para naman sa ERC, ang pagbabalik ni Dimalanta sa komisyon ay makapagpapatatag na sa regulatory agency.
“The ERC welcomes the decision of the Ombudsman to lift the Order of the preventive suspension, as it would ensure the stability within the agency and the energy industry as a whole. The Commission also extends its gratitude to Officer-in-Charge Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres whose brief stint helped steer the agency through a critical period,” ayon sa ERC.
“With Chairperson Dimalanta’s return, the ERC continues its commitment to fulfilling its mandate as the country’s energy regulator,” dagdag na wika nito.
Idagdag pa rito, sinabi ng ERC na nakasaad sa naging desisyon ng Ombudsman na bawiin ang suspensyon laban kay Dimalanta na may petsang Oct. 22 “after a thorough evaluation of the present case records, this Office finds that the ground which justifies the continued imposition of preventive suspension no longer exists. Therefore, the preventive suspension is no longer necessary.”
Samantala, tiniyak naman ng ERC sa publiko na “all operations of the Commission will remain unhampered and will continue to function to the extent possible and as required by the exigencies of service.”
Sa ulat, pinatawan ng preventive suspension na anim na buwan ng Office of the Ombudsman si Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta.
Sa kautusan ni Ombudsman Samuel Martires, may petsang ika-29 ng Agosto, binanggit na matibay ang ebidensya laban kay Dimalanta sa mga reklamo sa kanya na grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty at conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Ang mga reklamo kay Dimalanta ay inihain ng National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. (Nasecore).
Ayon sa Nasecore, pinayagan ni Dimalanta ang Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) na bumili ng kuryente sa Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) at ipasa sa mga konsyumer ang gastusin, na paglabag sa Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) Law.
Sinabi pa ni Martires na maaring matanggal si Dimalanta sa pwesto dahil sa mga reklamo sa kanya.
Ipinaliwanag ni Martires na maaring maapektuhan ang pagsasagawa ng mas malalim na imbestigasyon kung mananatili sa pwesto si Dimalanta kaya’t dapat itong suspendihin. Kris Jose
