Non-government group Laban Konsyumer Inc. filed criminal and administrative cases against the commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission before the Office of the Ombudsman for the agency’s alleged failure to promote consumer interest. Laban Konsyumer president Vic Dimagiba, a former Trade undersecretary, accused the ERC commissioners of violating the Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Ethics of Government Officers and the Revised Penal Code. The consumer group filed the original complaint on March 30, 2017 but later executed a supplemental affidavit complaint to include administrative liability. The Ombudsman will now proceed with the preliminary investigation of the criminal case and the adjudication of the administrative case. The respondents were ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar and commissioners Josefina Patricia Magpale -Asirit, Gloria VictoriaYap- Taruc and Geronimo Sta.

Source: The Standard July 10, 2017 12:33 UTC