Peco urges probe of power firm, local officials over expropriation of its assets

MANILA, Philippines — Panay Electric Co. Inc. (Peco), the power supplier in Iloilo City and three neighboring towns, has asked the Department (DOJ) of Justice to investigate the possible violations of a power firm and local officials.

In a letter addressed to Officer-in-Charge Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, Peco legal counsels Philip Sigfrid Fordun and Sheila C. Sison urged the DOJ to conduct preliminary investigation on More Power and local officials’ move to divest the assets of Peco, which serves over 64,000 households and business establishments in Iloilo.

“We request your Honorable Office to conduct a preliminary investigation in accordance with the concurrent jurisdiction of the DOJ to investigate charges of illegal acts or omissions on the part of any public official and their conspirators,” read the letter addressed to Fadullon, which was received by the DOJ on June 27.

Fortun and Sison alleged that there is a possible “violation of the Anti-Graft Law as well as Article 171, paragraphs 2 and 4, and the use of falsified document under Article 172, sub-paragraph of paragraph 2 of the Revised Penal Code.”

Earlier, Peco assailed the move of the Iloilo City regional trial court (RTC) to proceed with expropriation proceedings that would give away Peco assets to More. It said the move is against the law and runs against the Bill of Rights provisions of the 1987 Constitution. (Editor: Eden Estopace)

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