The ERC was put on hot water when Commissioner Francisco Villa Jr. ended his life after revealing the corruption at the Bids and Awards Committee of the Commission.
Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairman Jose Vicente Salazar gave in to the calls for him to take a leave until the investigation on the alleged corruption in the Commission is finished.
Salazar said on December 5, Monday, that he was going on a month break and it was effective immediately.
By taking a leave, Salazar hopes that the investigation will be completed as soon as possible.
“I believe that by focusing on this concern, the inquiries can be brought to a speedier and fitting conclusion”, the ERC Chairman on-leave said, adding that what he is doing is for the best interest of the ERC.
“The faster the facts can be brought out in the open, the sooner we can put the matter to rest”.
The ERC Chairman said that he has taken step in order to focus on helping in the ongoing and planned probes regarding the issues related to the agency, particularly to the ones allegedly raised by the late Commissioner Francisco Villa Jr., who he called a “dictator”.
The ERC was put on hot water when Commissioner Villa ended his life after revealing the corruption at the Bids and Awards Committee of the Commission.
While Salazar is on leave, Commissioner Geronimo Sta. Ana will be the officer-in-charge of the agency.
Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi suggested that it would be best for Salazar to take a leave while the investigation is on progress.
The DOE had tapped the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an investigation on the death Director Villa last November.
Villa committed suicide last November 9, reportedly because of pressure from his superiors to engage in irregular transactions through the ERC Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).