Biz Buzz: Dimalanta out. Now what?

While some cases progress at a slow pace, the issue targeting Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chair Monalisa Dimalanta was seemingly handled at lightning speed, inevitably raising eyebrows.

Isidro Consunji, chair of DMCI Holdings that stretches to the energy sector, said the case filed by a consumer group at the Office of the Ombudsman developed at a high speed.

“Very flimsy. So many people get away with so many things… worse things,” Consunji said in a chat with reporters when asked for his reaction.

“Nagulat talaga ako dun tsaka ang bilis (I was caught by surprise. And it happened so quickly,” the tycoon added.

Amid the ERC’s alleged failure to recalculate Manila Electric Co.’s rates, the Ombudsman slapped Dimalanta with a six-month preventive suspension.

During the quick interview with Dimalanta earlier this week, the embattled government official appeared undaunted.

Dimalanta said she would exhaust legal options “so that the truth will come out and rule of law will prevail.”

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“This case is one of first impression – it may look like a simple case of delayed action but there is more to it than that,” she told Biz Buzz.

Dimalanta even reminded consumers and stakeholders in the sector to “remain vigilant and put a close watch on the decisions, actions of the Commission.”

Now, the question of some is: While the cat’s away, will the mice play?