ERC execs face graft, bribery raps

Energy Regulatory Commission chief Alfredo Non and four other ERC officials were charged with graft and bribery yesterday for allegedly using P15 million in funds of a private company for their foreign trips.

In a 26-page complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, advocacy groups Sanlakas and Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) said the ERC officials must be investigated for graft, indirect bribery, technical malversation and violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The other respondents are ERC Commissioners Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Josefina Patricia MagpaleAsirit, Geronimo Sta. Ana and ERC director for market operations service Debora Anastacia Layugan.

The complaint was filed by Sanlakas secretary general Jose Aaron Pedrosa Jr. and FDC secretary general Samuel Cesar Gamboa.

The complainants also filed administrative charges of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and serious dishonesty against the ERC officials.

The groups sought the dismissal of the respondents from government service.

They alleged that the respondents received P15 million from the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) for their airline tickets, hotel accommodations and even clothing allowances for their travels abroad from February 2009 to August 2015.

The PEMC is a nonprofit organization regulated by the ERC, with the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) as its market operator.

Based on the PEMC’s report on budget utilization from 2009 to 2015, Non allegedly spent P3.516 million of PEMC funds for his travels to Australia, Florida and New Zealand in 2013 and 2014 for supposed meetings and seminars.

Taruc allegedly used P4.9 million of PEMC fund for her travels to Australia, Florida, Washington and Davao.

Asirit allegedly spent P741,921 for her travels to Australia and New Zealand. Layugan allegedly spent P5.881 for her travels to Canada, Florida, Germany, New Zealand and Texas as well as Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

“These travels are not aligned with the purpose of monitoring facilities – for which the fund was earmarked. The respondents failed to liquidate the funds that they received from the PEMC,” the complaint read.

The purpose of the travels of the ERC officials were supposedly to attend conferences, training programs and meetings.