Angeles City gov’t seeks P5M in damages from power firm

ANGELES CITY — The city government here has filed a civil case against the Angeles Electric Corp. (AEC) for cutting off power supply to the city library.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin said in his complaint filed before the Regional Trial Court here that there was no reason for AEC to cut power supply to the library, located in downtown Barangay Sto. Rosario, since its power bill payments were up to date.

Lazatin explained that the power shutdown last Oct. 24 to 27 affected not only services to the public but also the operations of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which is holding office there.

AEC also shut down power simultaneously at city hall in Barangay Pulung Maragul because of its P6.1 million unpaid electric bills.

The city government is demanding P5 million in damages.

Lazatin pointed out in his complaint that the AEC "acted with grave abuse of power" and "wanton disregard for the rights of the plaintiff and without justifiable reasons… and without considering the public interest."

He said that the power shut down "came as a surprise" as records indicated the public library’s power bills were up to date. He cited receipts indicating that the library’s latest bills, amounting to P20,000 to P24,000 per month had all been settled.

Lazatin asked the court for AEC to pay the city government P2 million in actual damages that resulted from the disruption of library services. He also said that "to prevent the repetition of similar acts to others", the AEC should also be made to pay P1 million in exemplary damages and another P2 million for allegedly "besmirching and injuring" the reputation of the city government.

Political observers here, however, are eyeing politics in the power shutdown as Lazatin plans to run either for congressman against Rep. Francis Nepomuceno or for reelection as mayor against the latter’s younger brother, Barangay Cutcut chief Robin Nepomuceno. The AEC is largely owned by the Nepomuceno family.

At one time, Lazatin also said he would support the mayoralty bid here of Gov. Lito Lapid who is now serving his last term as governor and whose son Mark has already announced plans to run for governor.

After the power was shutdown at the city hall and at the public library, local Comelec officials established registration and revalidation centers for voters at the Nepo Mall, another property closely associated with the Nepomucenos. The centers were later pulled out by Comelec regional director Artemio Lambino amid complaints from Lazatin regarding the still unsolved fatal shooting of city registrar Ponciano Palo at his residence here last Oct. 24.