The Ombudsman has ordered anew the suspension for three months of four commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission for simple neglect of duty.
In a decision approved and signed by Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang, suspended were Commissioners Alfredo S. Non, Gloria Victoria C. Yap-Taruc, Josefina Patricia M. Asirit, and Geronimo D. Sta. Ana.
They were held administratively liable for tolerating the Manila Electric Co. misuse of bill deposits by allowing its co-mingling with the capital or operation cost of the power firm.
They had earlier been suspended by the Ombudsman for one year when they were found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, aggravated by simple misconduct and simple neglect of duty.
Their one year suspension was for allegedly exempting Meralco and other firms from the competitive selection process, which mandates that all power supply agreements be covered by public bidding.
But the Court of Appeals, acting on a petition filed by the four ERC commissioners, nullified the one year suspension, paving the way for their return to their posts.
The new suspension order arose from the syndicated estafa complaint filed by the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. for unauthorized use by Meralco of the bill deposits of customers and the unjust fixing of its interest rates, and the non-crediting of thereof in favor of the consumers. (Rey G. Panaligan)
