NGCP wins TRO against Capitol

THE July 2 auction of properties owned by National Grid Corp. of the Philippines won’t push through.

Regional Trial Court Judge Sylvia Aguirre-Paderanga of Branch 16 found sufficient basis in the NGCP’s request to stop the auction and issued a 20-day Temporary Restraining Order against the Capitol.

NGCP, the franchise holder of the country’s power transmission lines, asked the court to stop the province from selling in auction the company’s properties for its supposed failure to pay P72 million in real property taxes.

The power utility firm was levied a tax for its submarine cables, transmission lines and other machinery in Samboan town in the south and Daanbantayan town in northern Cebu.

If the auction would take place, NGCP said the public would suffer blackouts in parts of Cebu and the Visayas.

They said the firm is exempt from paying real estate taxes in connection with its franchise under Republic Act 9511 or the act granting  NGCP  a franchise to engage in the conveying or transmission of electricity.

Named defendants in the case were Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre, Provincial Assessor Anthony Sususco, and the National Power Corporation.