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Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

ERC chief has to go–Duterte

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he will eventually sack suspended Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Jose Vicente Salazar.

Duterte had suspended Salazar for 90 days even as Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi promised an impartial investigation of the corruption allegations against the ERC chief. 

“I have fired 96 to date. Mostly guys in regulatory bodies,” Duterte said in a speech before orthopedic surgeons in Davao City. 

“I have suspended Salazar because of corruption, and I will eventually remove him.” 

Duterte made his statement even as the left-leaning group Bayan said in a statement that Salazar’s suspension was not enough.

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President Rodrigo Duterte

Group Secretary-General Renato Reyes Jr. questioned Salazar’s actions at the ERC and said  he might have approved anomalous deals disadvantageous to consumers. 

“Chairman Salazar swiftly and secretly approved seven power-supply contract extensions last January, robbing the ERC of the opportunity to evaluate whether those deals were disadvantageous to consumers,” Reyes said. 

“He has been suspended from office. That may not be enough. It is time for him to step down.”

In a memorandum issued on Thursday, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea appointed Commissioner Alfredo Non as the ERC’s officer-in-charge in view of Salazar’s suspension, which took effect on May 2. 

“Commissioner Non is directed to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of services to the public and the efficient operations of the ERC,” Medialdea said. 

Cusi said Salazar’s suspension proved that there were no sacred cows in the Duterte administration.

“Corruption adds to the cost of everything. That being said, it is but proper that all allegations of wrongdoings are properly investigated,” Cusi said.

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