Duterte names new ERC member; PPCRV head resigns

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has appointed a new member of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and an executive director of the Emergency 911 national office. 

Duterte named Catherine Paredes Maceda as ERC member for a 10-year term that will expire on July 10, 2025. Her appointment paper was signed last Sept. 11. 

Maceda will replace Alfredo Non, one of the ERC officials suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for three months last May for neglect of duty.

Other ERC officials slapped with three-month suspension were Gloria Victoria Taruc, Josefina Asirit and Geronimo Sta. Ana.

ERC chair and CEO Agnes Devanadera said with Maceda’s appointment, ERC now has a quorum to hold meetings.

As a collegial body, the presence of at least three members of the commission is needed to constitute a quorum to enable the ERC to adopt any ruling, order, resolution, decision or other act in the exercise of the body’s quasi-judicial and legislative functions.

Duterte also designated retired police chief superintendent Diosdado Valeroso as executive director of the Emergency 911 National Office. 

The President institutionalized 911 as the nationwide emergency number through Executive Order 56 issued last May.

The order expanded the emergency hotline Duterte established when he was mayor of Davao City. 

Duterte has also appointed Ferdinand Sevilla as vice president for administration of the Philippine Public Safety College. 

Sarmiento resigns

Meanwhile, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) chairman Rene Sarmiento has resigned for health reasons.

He said he decided to quit after he underwent head surgery on April 1.

He resigned as PPCRV chief effective Aug. 31.

His term was supposed to expire on Oct. 31, 2022.

Sarmiento replaced former ambassador to the Vatican Henrietta de Villa as head of the PPCRV in August 2016.

He served as commissioner of the Commission on Elections for seven years.

Sarmiento was also part of the government peace panel during the Aquino administration. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Danessa Rivera