ERC chair ‘pushed’ my brother to sign illegal papers, says journalist

MANILA, Philippines — Journalist Charie Villa testified before a panel of House of Representatives on Monday that her brother, the late director Jun Villa, Jr., was pressured by Energy Regulatory Commission chairperson Jose Vicente Salazar to approve anomalous projects.

Villa told the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, said that her brother kept on mentioning the names of Salazar and his chief of staff Steve Riva. It was later revealed that Riva is Salazar’s first cousin.

Villa narrated that on the morning of the day before her brother committed suicide, he told her that Salazar was pushing the late director to sign “illegal documents.”

“…that day he told me, 'Chairman Salazar is pushing me to sign illegal documents.' I said, 'Jun, quit that job.' That he said to me before he took his life, and I categorically state that,” the veteran journalist said.

“November 7 and November 8, hindi na siya pumapasok. Tuesday nag-breakfast kami. Sabi ko, 'Jun, dito ka ba ulit?' Sabi niya, 'Oo, Charie. Di ko na kaya pumasok. May pinapapirmahan kasi sa akin na illegal na dokumento. Ako kasi ang Bids and Awards Committee chair. Illegal e, rigged e,’” she added.

She added that after her brother told her that he could not stomach signing the documents, she advised him to quit and look for another job.

“Sabi ko: 'Marami akong kilala. Mag-resign ka na diyan, akin na bio-data mo,” Villa recounted.

Villa said it had always been her brother’s fear to sign rigged contracts.

The younger sister of the late ERC official said that before the suicide, they had noticed that Jun Villa was losing weight, which made them worry.

“Nung hindi na siya pumapasok November 7 and November 8, tinatanong ko na may sakit ka ba. Kasi patuloy ang pagpayat niya. He was saying na meron siyang diabetes. I knew he was going through something,” Villa told House members.

Salazar defends cousin's appointment as chief of staff

Upon being questioned by a member of the committee, Salazar defended his decision to hire his first cousin.

He argued that Riva was a confidential employee at the office of the chairman and was the temporary head of the administrative service.

“Ang appointment niya po sa ERC ay bilang head executive assistant which is a confidential position. I'm allowed under civil service law to appoint him,” Salazar said.

Villa also revealed that her family initially wanted to put the issue to rest, but the issues that led to the death of her brother were still existing.

Villa said that her brother had always considered the ERC his family, which made him stay despite the meager pay that he received.

Villa said: “Importante sa kanya ang kanyang trabaho, ERC. Pamilya niya yan e. And if you listen to his recordings na naiwan niya makikita mo kung gaano niya pinahahalagahan ang trabaho niya.”

“Pinagtatawanan natin pest control, rennovation, nakakatawa dahil maliit na halaga. Pero sa isang kawani malaki yun. Magkano lang ba sinusweldo ng kapatid ko? Sa kanya malaking bagay na inappoint siyang Bids and Awards Committee chairman. Yung mga kawani dito alam niyo magkano sweldo niyo. Yung mga kawani ng ERC iba director walang aircon ang kwarto,” she said. “Pero nung nakita ko yung mga litrato nila masaya sila. Pamilya niya yan e.”

She said that it was their father who taught them that being in government service was honorable and that civil servants should do their job with honor and dignity. She said that this dedication and respect for his job could have led to his suicide.

“Kasi ang tatay ko 45 years na government employee. Yung ang tinuro sa amin. Pahalagahan dahil ang trabaho sa pamahalaan dapat kagalang-galang. Paano na tayo sabi niya sa akin. Ganito na lang ba? Yung ang sagot sa inyong tanong why he felt there's no recourse anymore,” she said.

Villa said that she could feel the predicament of ERC employees who wanted to rid the energy agency of corruption.

“Ang hinahawakan ni Chairman Salazar e buhay ng mga kawaning ito. Pag nawalan sila ng trabaho, saan sila pupulutin? Kapag nawalan ng trabaho yun lang naman e,” she bemoaned.