Leave or resignation up to ERC chief - Palace

MANILA - Malacañang said it is up to Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chair Zenaida Ducut if she will take a leave of absence after being tagged in the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam. Communications Group Secretary Sonny Coloma said there is no legal basis to ask Ducut to take a leave, noting that the allegations against her are still being investigated. Pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy earlier tagged Ducut, saying she regularly received kickbacks from businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the scam. Luy also said Ducut collected kickbacks for six lawmakers. ANC News Now, December 17, 2013