RTC judge cites Transco officials in contempt for disobeying court

Officials of the National Transmission Commission were cited in contempt for disobeying a court order that allows the posting of security guards from Kampilan Security Agency inside Transco premises in Banilad.

Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras ruled that Transco lawyer Perla Centino and security chief Eduardo Cabalan committed indirect contempt against a temporary restraining order, thus imposing them a fine of P10,000.

Kampilan was the supplier of security guards to Transco for the past 14 years but the bidding last June for a P16 million contract technically ousted the agency from the deal for a new contract.

Three agencies namely PEKTOF, Linker, and Security and Safety Corporation won the bid and since then had posted their guards at Transco.

Kampilan questioned the bidding process and went to court where it filed for damages and the issuance of a preliminary injunction.

Kampilan's lawyer Ian Anthony Sapayan said the firm filed the case after it was barred from participating in the bid purportedly due to its failure to comply with a requirement for SSS clearance.

Kampilan later obtained a TRO, which court sheriff Fortunato Viovicente and members of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Group served to the security department of Transco that would have allowed the posting of 70 Kampilan guards back in Transco.

The Transco management however refused to obey the TRO by stopping the return of the Kampilan guards, prompting Judge Peras to cite Centino and Cabalan for indirect contempt.

After a 30-minute negotiation between the court sheriff and the Kampilan lawyers, the Transco management eventually decided to allow the posting of Kampilan security guards.

"Lipay sab ta nga nagmalinawon ang pag-deploy balik sa mga karaang security guards," said Viovicente. - Ramil V. Ayuman/RAE