CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he wouldn't budge on his decision not to allow the next Ironman event at South Road Properties highway. In a Facebook post, Tomas said he places the interest of "tens of thousands" of commuters over that of "thousands" of Ironman fans. The traffic congestion, already made terrible by the underpass construction, would be worsened. And making SRP two-way for the Ironman, would be dangerous. There are other places in Cebu, he said, where the activity could be held.

--

Asirit, Sta. Ana

Four commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) were suspended by the Ombudsman in a May 18 decision for three months without pay.

What makes it interesting for everyone: It's the second suspension of the same public officials in the past seven months. Last December, they were also suspended for one year without pay.

And what makes it highly interesting to Cebuanos is that two of the four ERC commissioners are from Cebu: Josefina Patricia M. Asirit and Geronimo D. Sta. Ana. Asirit is a former Cebu Provincial Board member (2001-2004) and a dyAB radio co-anchor for two years. Sta. Ana was former Cebu City administrator (from November 1983 to March 1986), under then mayor Ronald Duterte, and partner and Cebu branch manager of Carlos J. Valdez and Co. for 11 years.

(The other two ERC commissioners are Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc and Alfredo Non.)

With only few high-profile officials from Cebu under the Duterte administration, many Cebuanos are worried the two might lose their seats.

--

Why the suspension

The second suspension (for 30 days) was for "simple neglect of duty" for letting Meralco use billions of pesos in electric bill deposits to pay for its operations. Meralco "co-mingled" consumers funds with its own funds.

The first suspension (for one year) was for omitting bidding process for power suppliers, including Meralco, a requirement aimed to get the best price for power end-users.

Both acts involved billions of pesos and prejudiced thousands of consumers, yet are called simple neglect or simple misconduct.

--

Two other options

The first suspension order was stayed by the Court of Appeals: first by a TRO in February and a preliminary injunction in April. The Office of the President, under which the ERC is run, was reportedly reluctant to suspend them as it might immobilize the four-member (with one chairperson) ERC which requires three to form a quorum.

The new ombudsman order issued last month is now also under appeal, with the same request for a TRO.

What the ERC fears is "vacuum of leadership," an argument shared by the C.A. But how to deal with a commission that the ombudsman has found twice to have failed in its job of protecting energy consumers?

The remedy apparently is for them to quit, as a number of lawmakers (not from Cebu) have urged, or for the president to fire them.

--

Cebu's bright stars

If any of that would happen, it's "saying" for Cebu. The two ERC commissioners are among our community's bright stars.

Josefina Patricia Asirit worked before as undersecretary of the Department of Energy when his uncle Rene Almendras headed it. Before that, she was chief of staff and consultant to the tourism secretary. A lawyer (U.P. Diliman), she was appointed to the ERC by then president Noynoy Aquino on July 26, 2013.

Gerry Sta. Ana was a La Salle University graduate who topped the CPA exams (#10) and obtained an MBA degree from U.P. He was dean of University of Southern Philippines for 42 (?) years and was a governor of the Board of Investments, representing the private sector. He was appointed to the ERC also by Aquino on March 19, 2015.

The term of both Asirit and Sta. Ana will expire on July 10, 2020.

***

Tell us about it.

[paseares@gmail.com]