Kasalukuyang pilit na gustong i-take-over ng More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE) na pag-aari ng gambling and ports magnate na si Enrique Razon Jr. ang power distribution assets sa matagal nang panahon na Iloilo power distributor Panay Electric Company (PECO).
Sa gitna ito nang kuwestiyunableng kautusan at writ mula sa Iloilo Regional Trial Court (RTC).
Ang naturang kautusan ay inisyu ni
Judge Emerald Kuizon Requina-Contreras ng Iloilo RTC Branch 23 sa kabila ng katotohanan na mayroon nang desisyon mula sa Korte na nagdedeklara bilang unconstitutional on equal protection and due process grounds sa expropriation provisions ng Republic Act 11212 na nagkaloob ng prangkisa sa MORE.
Ang naturang desisyon ay idinulog mismo ng MORE sa Supreme Court (SC) bilang apela at ang isyu ay kasalukuyan pa ring nakabinbin.
Dahil sa naturang kuwestiyunableng kautusan ng Korte at ng Writ na inisyu nito ay naghain ang PECO sa Court Of Appeals CA) ng Petition for Certiorari na humahamon naman sa Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and/or Writ of Preliminary Injunction para pigilan ang pagpapatupad ng kautusan o anumang writ na maaring ilabas ng mababang hukuman.
“Contrary to what’s being circulated via publicity by MORE, it will be highly irregular at this point to insist on the takeover pending resolution of the motion for clarification that PECO has filed with the RTC of Iloilo to define the parameters of the implementation and, more importantly, in view of the Petition for Certiorari with prayer for TRO that has been filed with the Court of Appeals. MORE cannot jump the gun and pre-empt the ruling on our application for TRO,” tugon ng DivinaLaw, PECO legal counsel sa ka kanilang statement.
“The premature takeover not only is unjust, irregular and unwise, it will plunge the city of Iloilo into darkness. While this legal issue is being resolved, PECO will responsibly continue to provide service to the City. Additionally, PECO will vigorously pursue all legal remedies to set aside the order. We maintain that the order is unjust and impractical particularly given that another court has declared the unconstitutionality of MORE’s franchise and MORE’s appeal to reverse such judgment remains pending with the SC. This is not the first time they’ve tried to do this. Allowing MORE to take over on the basis of a highly questionable expropriation is most unjust,” dagdag pa ng statement.
Ayon naman kay PECO Head of Public Engagement and Government Affairs Marcelo Cacho.
“It will also cause irreparable injury and massive damage to the City of Iloilo and its stakeholders, given that the parameters for the implementation of the writ are yet to be clarified by the court,” dagdag nito.
Noong nakaraang taon, naglabas ang Iloilo RTC ng kautusan na nagpapatigil sa pagdinig nang expropriation case na inihain ng MORE para i-take -over ang mga pasilidad ng PECO.
Ang naturang kautusan ay sumusuporta sa dati nang Supreme Court (SC) decision na nagbasura sa kahilingan ng Razon-owned Company na magpalabas ng TRO and/or writ of preliminary injunction laban sa nauna na nang resolusyon ng Mandaluyong RTC na nagdedeklara sa MORE’s expropriation and takeover sa PECO’s electric distribution assets bilang unconstitutional.
“Despite these challenges, we will continue to fight for our rights, for what is right, and for the people of Iloilo,” ayon pa kay Cacho.
