A bit of tension occurred at the power substation area in General Luna Street in City Proper, Iloilo City Saturday afternoon after owners and employees of Panay Electric Co. (PECO) purportedly tried to fence a lot that was turned over MORE Electric and Power Corp. in February 2020.
The episode happened when Dr. Diana Cacho and several PECO employees brought galvanized iron sheets and steel tubes which will be used as enclosure around the 2,900-square meter Lot 217-A.
But MORE Power security personnel assigned to the power substation barred the PECO team from putting up the fence which led to a faceoff of sorts between the two parties.
Lawyer Alyanna Babayen-on of MORE Power and PECO corporate communications officer Mikel Afzelius also arrived at the area and a dialogue ensued.
It was later agreed that PECO can stock the GI sheets and tubes in the area while they go to court for guidance on the matter.
Atty. Babayen-on said the lot in question was already turned over to MORE Power by court sheriffs who enforced the writ of possession issued by the Regional Trial Court in favor of MORE Power.
A copy of the Feb 28, 2020 delivery receipt from the court sheriffs indicate that Lot 217-A is included in the properties and equipment handed over to MORE Power so it can operate electricity distribution services in Iloilo City.
But only the lot was turned over the MORE Power while the staff house and cafeteria remained with PECO.
Babayen-on said that since it was the court that handed over the property to MORE Power, it is also the court that can reverse its own order.
“If possession was given to a party, in this case MORE Power, by virtue of a court order, it cannot be taken away without a court order. If PECO feels that it should be excluded, there should be a court order and that’s what we are waiting for,” she added.
