Hearing on Shell plea set Jan. 17

The Court of Appeals has calendared for hearing a pending petition of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. questioning a Manila regional trial court’s resolution that ordered the Big Three oil companies to open their books of account to government audit amid allegations of price fixing.

In setting the hearing for Jan. 17, the appellate court cited the “far-reaching effects to the public” of Shell’s petition that seeks to void the April 27, 2009, order of Manila RTC Branch 26 Judge Silvino Pampilo.

“Considering the importance of the issues involved, its far-reaching effects on the public…this court deems it necessary to set the case hearing,” read a two-page resolution penned by Presiding Justice Andres Reyes.

The Court of Appeals said that conducting a formal inquiry on the matter would allow it to “make a more judicious evaluation of the pending incidents in the present action.”

In his order, Pampilo had granted a petition by the Social Justice Society (SJS) and directed Pilipinas Shell, Petron Corp. and Chevron Philippines Inc. to allow the government to scrutinize their books of account.

SJS and various sectors had accused the three major oil firms of forming a cartel and manipulating the prices of oil products which had skyrocketed. Marlon Ramos