Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Monalisa C. Dimalanta has been preventively suspended for six months by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) on a complaint filed against her by the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms, Inc. (Nasecore).
In an order issued last Aug. 27 by Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires, Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin has been tasked to implement Dimalanta's suspension.
Martires' order stated that the suspension is enforced "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 suspension."
Nasecore wanted Dimalanta held liable for Grave Misconduct, Grave Abuse of Authority, Gross Neglect of Duty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.
The complaint was filed after Dimalanta allowed the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to purchase electricity from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), with the former passing on the charges to consumers without first securing the approval of the ERC. Nasecore said this was in violation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
The OMB said: "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; her continued stay in office may prejudice the case filed against her; and, to prevent her from further committing malfeasance and/or misfeasance in office, she is hereby placed under preventive suspension during the period of investigation but not more than six months pursuant to Section 24 of Republic Act No. 6770."
Dimalanta could not be contacted for comment as of posting.