Capitol asks DOJ to hear complaint vs. oil firms

CEBU, Philippines - Holding a hearing on the overpricing charges hurled against the country’s three biggest oil companies might be the most convenient way to resolve the issue, said Provincial Legal Officer Marino Martinquilla.

“Considering the issues and interests involved in this case, complainants believe that a clarificatory hearing should be conducted by this DOE-DOJ Task Force so that the same could be ventilated and clarified,” reads the petition Capitol has filed with the DOE-DOJ Task Force, which requests for the conduct of the hearing. 

Martinquilla said a hearing would be most convenient for the parties involved and would be the best way to “promote the ends of justice.”

In its petition, Capitol is asking DOJ to hold the hearing in Cebu because it “would not only be practical, convenient, economical and reasonable but also greatly disadvantageous to the interest of all parties.”

Martinquilla said Resolution No. 98-01 of the DOE-DOJ Task Force allows the setting of a hearing on designated date and venue “where it may propound questions to the parties or their witnesses.”

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has sued giant oil companies Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Petron Corp. and Chevron Corp. before the DOJ because of their “comparatively high oil prices in Cebu,” allegedly violating Section 11 of Republic Act 8479 or the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998.

The case stemmed from the alleged inexplicable higher prices of fuel by about P5 to P8 per liter in Cebu than in Metro Manila and other key cities in the countries.

Garcia said earlier she filed the case, as she stands by her obligation to Cebuanos as the highest official of the land.

The governor is the first local government official to formally go against the “big three” and said she is aware that they can “use their big oil buckets against her.”

Martinquilla said the case against the oil companies involves the Cebuanos who “have long been prejudiced and abused by acts of the respondents and its outcome or resolution would certainly affect their certainly interest.”

The move of Garcia was backed by various chambers of commerce in Cebu and continues to draw support from other organizations locally and nationally, specifically the Philippine Councilors League, which, according to its national president, Councilor Victor Ferrer, plans to print their statement in the national newspapers. — Garry B. Lao/JMO (THE FREEMAN)