After exec's suicide, House panel studies abolition of ERC

The House energy committee on Tuesday said it would look into the possible abolition of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

House committee chairperson and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco made the pronouncement after ERC director Francisco Jose Villa Jr. committed suicide allegedly due to pressures from corruption in the agency.

"We will be conducting an investigation in aid of legislation to determine the systems and procedures within the commission. Further, we will be studying the abolition of the ERC thru an amendment of the EPIRA Law," said Velasco.

Velaso said his panel will determine whether a new agency should be created to assume the ERC's fuctions or its responsibilities should be passed on to the Department of Energy.

The lawmaker assured the public that the abolition of the ERC would not create a vacuum in the power industry.

Villa, brother of journalist Rosario Sofia "Chari" Villa, committed suicide inside his house in Paranaque last November 9 due to alleged corruption in the ERC. 

The ERC director reportedly revealed that he was being pressured to approve ERC procurement contracts and hiring consultants without proper bidding and procedure.

In a series of notes he was said to have written three months before his death, Villa reportedly accused ERC chairperson and CEO Jose Vicente Salazar of allegedly being involved in a "rigged selection system."

Two separate House resolutions have already been filed seeking an investigation on the matter. — VVP, GMA News