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[av_heading heading=’PEOPLE POWWOW | No problem with Treñas’ decision to inhibit’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY HERBERT VEGO
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Thursday, May 4, 2017
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WE HEARD councilor Joshua Alim say on radio that he respects the decision of Rep. Jerry P. Treñas (Iloilo City) to inhibit himself from a congressional probe into “overbilling” and other alleged anomalies committed by Panay Electric Company (PECO). He added, however, that in effect the congressman was siding with PECO rather than with the people who had voted for him.
On hearing that, I wondered whether Alim, being a lawyer like Treñas, was correct in passing judgment on the latter. And so I consulted a practicing lawyer.
“I don’t think the congressman’s intention to inhibit himself is tantamount to choosing a client over his constituents,” the lawyer begged to disagree with the councilor. “On the contrary, inhibition is a legal remedy where conflict of interest crops up.”
Since PECO happens to be a client of Treñas’ law office, the congressman’s participation in the investigation could morph into an issue against him.
Our lawyer friend cited Rule 15 of the lawyers’ Code of Professional Responsibility, which provides, “A lawyer shall not represent conflicting interests except by written consent of all concerned given after a full disclosure of the facts.”
Earlier, Alim announced that he had filed a resolution at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) calling for a congressional investigation of PECO, and that he had asked congressmen Treñas, Harry Roque and Isagani Zarate to sponsor a House resolution for such.
The SP resolution stemmed from a public hearing called by councilor R. Leone Gerochi, chair of the committee on public utilities, on Mar. 31, 2017.
Treñas made no objection to the proposed congressional inquiry. What he said was, “Kon imbestigahan gid man sang Congress, then I just have to disclose that PECO is one of the clients of the law office of which I am a member. Kon may ara dapat imbestigahon, imbestigahon.”
Did Alim take it to mean that the congressman was willing to take up the cudgels for alleged “victims” of PECO abuses?
If Alim were in the congressman’s shoes, assuming there is such a congressional probe in progress, would he not look awkward, improper and pretentious while nailing down a long-time client?
Under that circumstance, his only respectable move is to inhibit himself, staying out of sight while letting the disinterested probers determine the guilt or innocence of the public utility accused. To reiterate, inhibition is an act of delicadeza aimed at preventing the “inhibitor” from influencing the probers.
Who knows? As a power consumer himself, Treñas might also benefit from whatever disciplinary action the House probers would exert on PECO. His wife and children run restaurants and bakeshops that consume mega electricity.
That Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog also welcomes a congressional probe, he articulated with these words: “Consumer protection is one of our top priorities. We will not tolerate overpricing and PECO has to be made accountable.”
Among the city consumers’ complaints against PECO are inaccurate meter readings, sudden rise in electric bills and unfair charges for system’s loss due to power pilferage. What I heard from colleague Danny Fajardo yesterday was enough to convince me he is a victim of overbilling due to inaccurate meter reading. He showed me his latest monthly bill for residential power in the amount of P15,000.
“That’s more than an entire month’s salary of a minimum-wage worker!” I gasped in disbelief, noticing that a tenth of that amount was itemized for “system’s loss” or power stolen by others through illegal connections using so-called “jumpers”.
“PECO must have picked you as one of its most valued customers,” I joked. (hvego@yahoo.com/PN)
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