Malacanang said it is now studying a complaint filed against Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Zenaida Cruz-Ducut.
President Aquino said the filed complaint is now with the office of the Deputy Executive Secretary Michael Aguinaldo where it is currently being “studied and examined”.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Head Herminio Coloma Jr. said earlier that there is a newly created Investigative and Adjudicatory Division of the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs who is handling the administrative complaint against Ducut for her ‘ostensive abandonment of duty’ on the proposed power rate hike.
He also said the new office replaces the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.
Malacañang also denied allegations that it was “hesitant” in processing any complaints and penalize Ducut – . Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, who pointed the finger squarely at Malacañang. Akbayan was the militant group that filed complaints against Ducut on January 23. The militants emphasized that the President has the power to remove Ducut, which was his appointee.
The palace, however, did not set any deadline for the results of the investigation.
(with reports from PIA)
