accord with PEMC for irregularities BY [,ENIE LECTURA the signatoriesfof the operating tong macao [the local lingo for a Iemop's independence and could U @llectut a agreement]," Nograles said at a crooked deall happening in our violation of the RA 3019, or be in recent House hearing. industry," Vergara said. the anti-graft law. "The indepen- AWMAKERS are looking He said the selectiod for an Vergara observed the conflict dence is already subject to ques- into the irregularities Independent Market Operator of interest inirolving Iemop Presi- tion, whatever you san" Vergara within the Independent (IMO) to manage the:WESM dent and Chief Executive Officer told Nethercott. Electricity Market Op- was conducted without any Richard Nethercott, who was ap- The DOE, PEMC and Iemop erator of the Philippines (Iemop), competitive selection process. pointed at the start of the year. earlier said that the latter was operator of the Wholesale Elec- Moreover, Iemop grew "from a Nethercott admitted during created by virtue of the enact- tricity Spot Market (WESM). P7,000 capita lization to become the hearing that he is married ment of DOE Department Circu- Rep. Jericho Nograles of Pu- a multimillion-peso outfit with to an assistant secretary of the lar 2018 01-0002 dated January wersa ng Bayaning Atleta Party- a total declared income of more Departmgnt ofEnergy (DOE), but 17,2020, and, consequently, the list, also the vice chairman of th-e than P100 million for the end claimed that there is no conflict IMO Transition Plan, which are House Energy Committee, ques- of 2018." of interest, saying a legal opin- based on Section 30 of the Elec tioned Iemop's role and the operat- Nueva Ejica Rep. RosannaVer- ion from Iemop was sought on tric Power Industry Reform Act ingagreement with the Philippine gara said Congress should have the matter. (Epira), which were jointly ap- Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC). been involved in the creation of He also admitted that National proved bylthe DOE and the Elec- PEMC used to be the WESM the lemop, and should have un- Transmission Corp. President tric Power Participants. operator. dergone public bidding. Melvin Matibag was also mar- AIso, the DOE said a competi- "Looking at tbe operating "Do a public bidding, trans- rigd to one of the incorporators tive biddingwas required only for ag(eement between Iemop and parent and accountable, so that of Iemop, but has since resigned. foreign participants as an option PEMC, I find it highly irregular the Filipino consumers know However, Vergara, said the under the Epira if the lMO was that the incorporators are also that there is no such thing as lu- relationships cast doubts on created in 2007.