Administrative Offenses.
SEC. 17. Administrative Offenses. - The following acts, when committed by a government official and/or employee, shall be considered an administrative offense:
(a) Willful refusal to participate in the EVOSS;
(b) Willful acts which delay the operationalization of the EVOSS;
(c) Failure to comply with the mandated time frames as provided in this Act, or as imposed by the EVOSS Steering Committee; and
(d) Tampering with the EVOSS or any part or component thereof.
Confidentiality.
SEC. 18. Confidentiality. - No information or any aspect of a document submitted by any power generation, transmission, or distribution project proponent shall be divulged or released to anyone other than an authorized person or agency. Any document divulged or released to anyone by an authorized person or agency shall be subject to the Freedom of Information manual of each agency concerned.
Penalties.
SEC. 19. Penalties. - Any person found guilty of committing the acts states in Section 17(a) and (b) shall be penalized as follows:
(a) First offense - Thirty (30) days suspension without pay;
(b) Second offense - Three (3) months suspension without pay; and
(c) Third offense - Dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public service.
Any person found guilty of committing the act stated in Section 17(c) shall be penalized as follows:
(a) First offense - Thirty (30) days suspension without pay and mandatory attendance in Values Orientation Program;
(b) Second offense - Three (3) months suspension without pay; and
(c) Third offense - Dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public service, and forfeiture of retirement benefits.
Any person found guilty of committing the act stated in Section 17(d) shall suffer the penalty of dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public service.
Any person found guilty of violating Section 18 shall suffer the penalty of dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public service.
In cases of violation by the system operator and market operator of Section 17(a), (b), and (c), the ERC shall impose a fine of One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) for every day of delay.
Administrative Jurisdiction.
SEC. 20. Administrative Jurisdiction. - The administrative jurisdiction on any violation of the provision of this Act shall be vested in the Civil Service Commission or the DILG, in accordance with appropriate laws and issuances.
Civil and Criminal Liability.
SEC. 21. Civil and Criminal Liability. - This finding of administrative liability under this Act shall not be a bar to the filing of criminal. civil, or other related charges under existing laws arising from the same act or omission as herein enumerated.
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
