SC stops RTC ruling on quarrel among power firms

The Supreme Court has stopped the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court (RTC) from enforcing its July 1 ruling declaring as unconstitutional the power given by Congress to More Electric and Power Corp., the new distribution utility for Iloilo City, to expropriate the distribution assets of Panay Electric Co.

In a two-page resolution dated Dec. 3 and signed by clerk of court Edgar Aricheta, the high court said the temporary restraining order (TRO) was “effective immediately and continuing until further orders from this court” while it hears More’s petition to declare the RTC decision as illegal.

More president Roel Castro welcomed the high tribunal’s issuance of the TRO.

“More has a clear and unmistakable right to be protected, there is material and substantial invasion of such right, there is an urgent need for the writ to prevent irreparable injury to More, and no other ordinary, speedy and adequate remedy exists to prevent the infliction of irreparable injury other than the issuance of said TRO,” he said in a statement.—JEROME ANING