PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte called Monday for the immediate resignation of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) officials, after receiving reports of alleged irregularities within the agency.
“I am demanding that they all resign because I read the internal and intelligence [reports]. They are disrespecting the [ERC],” Duterte said in a press conference in Lima, Peru.
Duterte's pronouncement came two weeks after the agency lose Francisco Villa Jr., the ERC bidding chairman, to suicide. Villa reportedly left a suicide note, which said that he was allegedly forced by his superiors to approve anomalous transactions.
The President said he will ask Congress to either reject the proposed 2017 budget for ERC or disband the agency.
Duterte also warned them that he would file a case against ERC officials.
"I have options: file a case against them all or demand that no money will be appropriated [to the ERC]," he said. "They choose. I will ask Congress – I demand Congress to disband [the agency]."
Duterte cited internal and intelligence reports that there is rampant corruption and questionable appointments within the ERC.
He, however, was quick to clarify that he was calling out for the resignation of ERC executives and not the rank-and-file. (Sunnex)
