HEARING RESUMES Tuesday, July 2, on the expropriation case filed by MORE Electric and Power Co. (MORE Power) for Panay Electric Co. Inc.’s (PECO) assets. Iloilo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 37 Pairing Judge Victor E. Gelvezon scheduled the continuation of the hearing after denying on June 28 the motion of MORE Power to cease the hearing and decide on its application for a writ of possession (WOP) against PECO’s power distribution assets. PECO’s lead counsel Estrella C. Elamparo, in an interview, questioned MORE Power’s move saying that the power firm has no testimonial and documentary evidence to support its application. “Gusto nila wala na sila dokumentong isa-submit at ipapamarkahan (What they want is to do away with the submission and marking of documents)… because, for one, they don’t have testimonial evidence and no single documentary evidence,” Ms. Elamparo said. Among the documents required by the court for MORE Power to submit is the updated assessed total value of PECO’s distribution assets from the city treasurer’s office. Ms. Elamparo said no matter the outcome of the case, they are prepared for succeeding legal actions. MORE Power filed an expropriation case to acquire PECO’s assets after securing its congressional franchise through Republic Act No. 11212. PECO, whose franchise expired in January, continues to operate based on a provisional license issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

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