Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The chairman of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is not leaving his post just yet — not until he personally talks to President Rodrigo Duterte, who had just “demanded” the resignation of all of the agency’s top officials.
ERC Chairman Jose Vicente Salazar said in a statement on Monday that he and other commissioners had already been informed of directive given by the President, who was in Lima, Peru for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
Related: Duterte orders ERC commissioners to resign following officer’s death
“I am now waiting for the President’s return and will immediately seek out a meeting with him to give him a fuller picture of the current developments at the ERC,” Salazar said.
“I am confident that the proposed meeting with and briefing for the President would result in clearer directions from him regarding the issues facing the ERC.”
He said that in the meantime, he would take needed actions to protect ERC, like asking the Commission on Audit to immediately probe the allegations of the late Director Jun Villa of the bids and awards committee.
Salazar added that ERC would also fully support and cooperate with a planned Senate inquiry into the circumstances that reportedly led to Villa’s untimely death.
Villa was found dead November 9 with a gun and suicide notes beside his body. In his letters, he said he feared for his job — due to alleged corruption in the agency.
