By Lenie Lectura - March 4, 2020
MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE
Power) on Tuesday said Panay Electric Co. (Peco) has defied a gag order after
the latter held a news conference.
It said Peco, led by its counsel,
held a press briefing in Manila on March 3. This occurred a day after Iloilo
Regional Trial Court Branch 23 Judge Emerald Requina-Contreras said in a
two-page order that both parties must strictly observe the gag order issued
earlier by Judge Daniel Gerardo Amuler of Branch 35.
The gag order applies to MORE Power
and Peco officials and lawyers.
Contreras also cited Peco lawyer
Estrella Elamparo for giving “malicious statements on air of an alleged meeting
with the judge of a certain MORE personality,” a day before the writ
of possession (WOP) was served.
Contreras granted the writ of
possession to MORE Power under the expropriation case filed against Peco on
March 11, 2019. The WOP, which was served by the Iloilo City Sheriff’s Office
last week, effectively allows MORE Power to take control of Peco’s assets.
Contreras said Elamparo’s behavior
“will be dealt with by the court accordingly.”
Also, the same judge said she would
not allow “this misbehavior of counsels whenever the [court] judgment is
adverse to their client” to influence her decisions regarding the case, and
stressed she would “not be dissuaded to further hear the case with utmost
impartiality.”
In the same order, both parties were
directed by the court to submit their proposed timeline on the transition
period and turnover of records and documents following the issuance
of the WOP.
“The parties are given three days
from today to submit their respective timeline and to set things straight to
appear before the court on March 6, 2020, at 8:30 a.m.,” Contreras said.
MORE Power, owned by ports and
gaming magnate Enrique Razon Jr., assured the city’s residential and
business customers that it would ensure continuous power supply in the city and
is deploying reaction teams 24/7 to address complaints from consumers.
“In order to ensure continuity of
services to the consumers of Iloilo City, MORE Power troubleshooters and line
teams are mobilized to provide assistance as may be needed,” MORE Power said.
MORE Power secured a 15-year franchise from Congress in 2019 while Peco’s
franchise expired on January 19, 2019.
Under Republic Act 11212 signed on
February 14, 2019, by President Duterte, MORE Power was authorized to take over
all distribution assets and other properties whether private or
government-owned so it can distribute electricity in Iloilo City.
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