Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — President Rodrigo Duterte aims to “ask Congress” to abolish positions of commissioners in the Energy Regulatory Commission as they refuse to vacate their posts — at least until they meet with the President.
“Eh, ayaw nila? [Well, they refuse?] Well and good. Then I will ask Congress to abolish the positions,” he said on Monday.
Last week, the President demanded the officials’ resignation following the suicide of ERC Director Jun Villa of the bids and awards committee.
Read: Duterte orders ERC commissioners to resign following officer’s death, alleged corruption
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 issues in the agency. In his notes, Villa said he was feeling pressure from superiors to approve questionable contracts — but he was resisting.
The President described his spat with the commissioners as a “ruckus” during his Monday speech.
At it’s current state, the ERC is a quasi-judicial body.
If the said positions are abolished, Duterte said he “will just give it to the administrative body at first… Because I cannot be controlled by a department which is quasi. Regulatory nga, eh. It’s a quasi-judicial body, [It] should not be under with anybody.”
“We can recreate that immediately maybe before the year ends,” he pointed out.
Duterte accused the commission of using too much funds of the government.
“Alam mo, I have been trying to look at the iyong opisina nila, ang gastos nila. Mas marami pa iyong consultants… Ubos ang pera ng gobyerno nito. Milking cow iyan.”
[Translation: You know, I have been trying to look at their office, and they spend a lot. There are more consultants. The government will lose all its money there. It’s a milking cow.]
The President said he “demanded for their resignations” because of their “sordid record” and “questionable decisions in the past.”
“If I cannot trust a body that regulates the prices — kung magkano ang bayaran ni Juan dela Cruz — eh, magkakaproblema tayo diyan.”
[Translation: If I cannot trust a body that regulates prices — on how much the average person pays — well, we’re going top have a problem there.]
ERC officials seek meeting
In an interview on November 24, ERC Spokesperson Rexie Digal said officials “have made formal and informal requests for a meeting with the President, but so far there is no date yet.”
Read: Ordered to resign, ERC chief seeks meeting with Duterte
Digal stressed the ERC was taking the President’s warnings seriously but officials have not heeded calls to resign. She said they could explain the “full picture of developments” to Duterte if given a chance.
Read: ERC officials stand firm in the face of abolition threats
CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent Ina Andolong and Correspondent Claire Jiao contributed to this report.
