Another customer complains vs. VECO

CEBU, Philippines - A businessman sought the intervention of the court to nullify the differential billing issued by the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) against him.

Philip Abellana, a resident of Salinas Drive in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, filed a civil case for damages and writ of preliminary injunction against VECO and four of its employees.

He likewise asked the court to direct the defendants to restore the power supply to his establishment.

Other defendants were Marvin Dudilla, Roy Edward Mission, Domingo Vergara, Jr. and Rey Francisco.

Abellana is engaged in the business of selling assorted firearms and ammunitions.

He said the disconnection of power supply to his establishment was “unjustified since the VECO merely cited suspicion” of his alleged illegal use of electricity, to oblige him to pay the differential billing amounting to P79,586.77.

Abellana said he received a letter from VECO on October 26, 2011 imposing a differential billing of his business establishment’s power usage from December 2008 to September 2011 amounting to P79,586.77.

“The VECO gave me one business day from receipt to settle the differential billing,” he said.

VECO, in its letter, stated the differential billing of Abellana was after their anti-pilferage team discovered pilferage of Abellana’s establishment during its inspection.

“A #10 twisted wire and #8 stranded wire were directly tapped at Veco’s secondary line going to the commercial building. The foregoing condition prevented us from registering and billing the actual and full usage of electricity,” VECO said in its letter addressed to Abellana.

The VECO cited six violations of Abellana which included a removed meter data, tampered meter, installation of jumper, illegal extension, direct connection/no meter and by-pass meter. The VECO allegedly cut off the power supply on Abellana’s establishment last November 21.

However, Abellana questioned the basis of VECO in the disconnecting the power supply. He claimed this violates the “constitutional guarantee of a fair hearing before an impartial court.”

He added he was consistent in paying his monthly power billings and he never committed any of the six violations mentioned by the VECO.

“I was shocked to learn about the allegations of VECO since I have never done anything wrong and I was unaware of the power firm’s supposed inspection on my company,” he said.

Abellana added the inspection made by the VECO anti-pilferage team “was nothing but a fishing investigation to look for evidence for possible filing of civil and criminal charges” against him.

Abellana said the VECO has violated the provision of the Constitution as he was not given the opportunity to defend himself of the allegations.  (FREEMAN)