Nabigo ang Panay Electric Cooperative (PECO) na maisulong ang reklamo nila sa Department of Justice (DOJ) laban sa mga kritiko at tumututol na ma-renew ang kanilang prangkisa.
Ito’y matapos ibasura ng DOJ ang reklamo ng PECO na conspiracy laban kina Atty. Joshua Alim, Atty. Plaridel Nava II, Dr. Marigold Gonzales at Jane Javellana.
Batay sa inilabas na resolusyon ni DOJ Prosec. General Benedicto Malcontento, sinabi nito na walang basehan ang kasong isinampa ng PECO laban sa mga nabanggit.
“It is clear as the day that the respondents did not falsify any document,” ani Malcontento.
Nakasaad sa resolusyon na pirmado din nina DOJ State Prosecutor Gilmarie Fe Pacamarra at Senior State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon.
Nag-ugat ang kaso matapos kumalat ang isang manifesto ng mga Iloilo consumers na ” No to PECO Franchise Renewal” na pinasimulan umano ng mga respondents at nakarating hanggang Kongreso kung saan dinidinig noon ang franchise renewal application ng PECO.
Una nang idinepensa nina Alim at Nava na ang kanilang reklamo at aksyon laban sa PECO ay kanilang tungkulin bilang halal na opisyal lalo pa at batid nila ang reklamo ng mga consumers tulad ng overbilling, billing without reading, inefficient services at mahinang customer service.
Sa panig naman ng PECO, inakusahan naman nito sina Gonzales at Javellana ng pamemeke ng lagda para sa manifesto na ayon sa DOj ay wala ding matibay na ebidensya.
It’s pretty obvious from the very start that Mr. Cacho of PECO has no legal basis in filing those cases against us. It was a harassment tactic just to get even with us after its franchise was not acted upon favorably by the Committee on Legislative Franchises in the Lower House,” ani Alim.
It’s definitely a case of harassment to intimidate and stop us to do the right thing. But we knew that it was a fight worth fighting for. The Ilonggos deserve better and we deserve more from our electric distributor. Indeed, this victory is sweet and a victory that is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price. Thank God we did it!” wika ni Javellana.
