(Eagle News) — Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Jose Vicente Salazar was suspended for four months due to insubordination.
This is according to Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Ana Maria Banaag, who held a press conference on Thursday.
According to Banaag, the 4-month suspension without pay was apart from the 90-day suspension previously meted out on Salazar to give way to an inquiry into allegations of corruption made by then-ERC director Jose Villa.
Villa, ERC bids and awards committee chair, had alleged Salazar favored a certain Luis Morelos for the commission’s audiovisual presentation, and that the selection system had been rigged.
Villa took his life last year.
Banaag said Salazar’s 4-month suspension was in connection with his appointment of ERC-Davao chief Atty. Ronaldo Gomez as officer in charge of the ERC during the commission chief’s leave of absence.
She said this was an act of insubordination as the Office of the President, which has the authority to make such designations, had already previously appointed ERC Commissioner Geronimo Sta. Ana to the post.
“This is already a penalty for the insubordination case..There are other cases surrounding Salazar different from the insubordination case,” Banaag said.
