Civil case versus VECO withdrawn

CEBU, Philippines - A realtor withdrew his civil case against the Visayan Electric Company after the utility firm has reconnected his power supply.

The withdrawal of the case was granted by Regional Trial Court Branch 12 Judge Estela Alma Singco.

The complainant, Ken Salimbangon, asked the court’s permission to withdraw his motion for reconsideration on the dismissal of his complaint against VECO.

In his three-page motion, Salimbangon, nephew of fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon manifested that he is no longer pursuing the civil case for injunction he earlier filed against VECO after the latter reconnected his electricity.

“For the information of the Honorable Court, the model unit under the name of the plaintiff which is the subject of the present case for reconnection of electricity service has in fact already been reconnected by the defendant in this case and the electricity service restored to the unit,” Salimbangon said.

Salimbangon in effect asked for the dismissal of his own complaint.

“With the withdrawal of the motion for reconsideration, the proceedings in this case are deemed close and terminated,” the court ruled.

Salimbangon earlier filed a motion for reconsideration seeking for the reversal of the court’s ruling dismissing his complaint.

The court dismissed the case for forum shopping. The court found out that Salimbangon also filed a case before the Energy Regulatory Commission.

VECO disconnected Salimbangon’s power supply on July 6, 2011 after an alleged electric pilferage.

VECO claimed that Salimbangon pilfered a total of 8,331 kilowatt hours since November 2009 up to July 2011. He was assessed to have an outstanding financial obligation to the utility amounting to P86,869.55 including the 25-percent surcharge and inspection cost.

Salimbangon, however, denied having pilfered electricity from VECO. — (FREEMAN)