Panay Electric Company (PECO) remains the sole power service provider in Iloilo City.

The Iloilo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 23 refuted the claim of PECO’s rival firm, MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power), that it is now in operation.

In an order dated March 2, 2020, Presiding Judge Emerald Requina-Contreras directed MORE Power “to remove all the ads pertaining to its full operation pending the resolution of the foregoing.”

“MORE Power already made announcements on broadcast and social media that they are now in full operation of the distribution facilities of Iloilo City,” a part of the order read.

On Friday last week, Feb. 27, sheriffs implemented the writ of possession (WOP) issued by the court.

The WOP allows MORE Power, a company owned by ports and gaming magnate Enrique Razon Jr., to take over the distribution assets of PECO, whose franchise expired last Jan. 2019.

To ensure the continuous supply of electricity in the city, Contreras impose guidelines in the implementation of the WOP.

The presiding judge said MORE Power “may deploy their personnel to man and oversee the substations to exercise their possession and control the distribution facilities.”

But the operations of the facilities “should still be handled by PECO personnel who have the technical expertise.”

“To maintain the status quo of the operations, so as to give time for MORE Power to orient/train/immerse their personnel, before they can fully take control of the operation.”

Contreras’ latest order also reminded PECO and MORE Power to submit to the court their respective proposals as to their timeline on the transition period, accounting, turnover of records and documents relevant to distribution systems, and inventory of personal properties and real properties already under the possession of MORE Power.

The court likewise cautioned the counsels of PECO and MORE Power not to resort to any form of propaganda that undermines the integrity and credibility of the court, and to strictly observe the gag order.

“It has come to the attention of the court that both camps called press conferences, making pronouncements on certain matters which are yet to be discussed before the court.”IMT