CA affirms Carcar water case ruling

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed a ruling which dismissed the case filed by Barili Vice Mayor Marlon Garcia against the Carcar Water District.

In his ruling, Associate Justice Edgardo delos Santos found no sufficient reasons to reverse the ruling of the Regional Trial Court in junking Garcia’s case.

“After a painstaking review of the record of the case, the Court finds the appeal to be bereft of merit,” said Delos Santos whose ruling was concurred by Associate Justices Nina Antonio-Valenzuela and Victoria Paredes.

Garcia earlier filed a complaint against Carcar Water District and its officals for  the annulment of the water rate increases thay implemented in years 2003 and 2005.

The vice mayor claimed that the defendants put into effect the said water rate increases  without the pre-requisite public hearing.

The defendants sought for the dismissal of case.

The court dismissed Garcia’s petition as it could not take cognizance of the matters raised.

The court said the case is under the jurisdiction of National Water Resources Board. /Ador Vincent S. Mayol