MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has designated Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres as officer-in-charge chairperson and chief executive officer of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Malacañang announced on Saturday.
The Presidential Communications Office, on its official Facebook page, released a copy of the Sept. 20 memorandum from Malacañang that contains Andres’ latest designation.
Based on the memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Friday, Andres’ appointment takes effect immediately, "until a replacement is designated or until otherwise directed by this Office.”
Andres previously served as chief of staff of former vice president Noli De Castro.
His appointment came after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the six-month preventive suspension of ERC chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta for alleged neglect of duty over a complaint filed by the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms, Inc. (Nasecore).
Nasecore’s complaint stemmed from the ERC’s supposed failure to “recalculate the rate of Meralco that protects the interest of the public.” (PNA)
