Third party to investigate ERC exec’s death

Third party investigators will be allowed to unearth the truth in connection with the death of Energy Regulatory Commission ( ERC) director Francisco Jose Villa Jr.

Chairman Jose Vicente Salazar said he has given instructions to ERC officials to restrain themselves from issuing statements in their defense in the wake of the allegations now facing the agency following Villa’s death.

“I have issued this strict instruction based on the principle that we are not to defend our reputation at the expense of the memory of a dear colleague who served our organization well,” he said.

“We have left that task totally in the hands of independent third-party investigators. I appeal to everyone to do the same,” he added.

He cried foul over allegations of being involved in “midnight deals,” saying the bids and awards committee does not deal with permits and approvals for power industry players but only covers procurement of goods and services.

Salazar said the Market Operations Service and Regulatory Operations Service deal with the evaluation of permits and applications from power generators, distribution utilities and transmission grid operator.

“For the record, director Villa was not and has never been involved in the evaluation of applications for permits and approvals of power supply agreements between distribution utilities/electric cooperatives and generation companies,” he said.

“I appointed director Villa as chairman of a bidding committee, the function of which is to procure goods and services, not to evaluate the requirements of power firms. The erroneous insinuation merely proves that there are parties who are more than willing to use this death to suit their own agenda,” he said.

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