Duterte has ‘no power’ to fire execs

ENERGY Regulatory Commission (ERC) Commissioner Josefina Magpale Asirit yesterday said that to ask all commissioners to resign is an understandable reaction in the light of what happened.

Asirit was referring to the call of President Ro- drigo Duterte for the immediate resignation of ERC officials after he was informed that an ERC official committed suicide because of alleged anomalies within the agency.

Francisco Villa Jr., chairman of the ERC bids and award committee, killed himself allegedly because he was forced to approve irregular transactions.

Duterte had said he would ask Congress to either cut the agency’s budget or disband it. The President also warned that he would file charges against ERC officials if the evidence against them is strong.

The National Bureau of Investigation is investigating the matter.

Probe welcomed

However, Asirit said their resignation would not be in the best interest of the (power) sector. The gains they have made in reforming the institution would be for naught if they resign.

“It is not to say that we have exclusive rights over our position but there is a law governing our appointment, tenure and removal-these are safeguards of due process as well as to ensure continuity of the agency as an independent institution,” she said.

Asirit also welcomed any investigation and supported the call for the Commission on Audit and NBI to conduct an independent probe.

“Our commitment to cooperate as needed is a given. We see this as a matter that must be swiftly resolved. It is about weighing in the concept of delicadeza versus the equally important need to ensure that due process is observed,” Asirit said.

Asirit, who was appointed by then president Benigno Aquino III, is the daughter of Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and sister of Provincial Board Member Miguel Magpale.

Atty. Asirit was Department of Energy (DOE) undersecretary when her uncle Rene Almendras was appointed DOE secretary by Aquino.