“BUSINESSMAN SUES VECO OWNERS AND SENIOR OFFICIALS”

By Tonton Alcos Antogop

 

CEBU CITY – A businessman has filed a complaint against the corporate owners and other officials of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) in the Cebu City Prosecutors Office.

Raymond Tambis, an internet station owner sued for Grave Threats and/or Grave Coercion Under Article 282 and Article 283 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines the following;

1. Ramontito E. Garcia, with address at No. 6, Morales St., Lahug, Cebu City

2. Jaime Jose Y. Aboitiz, with address at 72 Paseo Eulalia, Maria Luisa Park, Banilad, Cebu City

3. Arlo Sarmiento of Unit 42, Villa Terrace Homes, Casuntingan, Mandaue City

4. Juan Antonio E. Bernad of Molave St, Lahug, Cebu City

5. Anton Mari G. Perdices of Bauhinia Drive, Banilad, Cebu City

6. Gil A. Garcia ll of Acacia St., Lahug, Cebu City

7. Charles Sylvestre A. Garcia of 375 Acacia St., Lahug, Cebu City

8. Andoni F. Aboitiz, with address at 2 Paseo Erlinda, Maria Luisa Estate Park, Banilad, Cebu City

9. Liza Luv T. Montelibano with address at 8 San Pedro Drive, Stonecrest, Brgy. San Vicente, San Pablo, Laguna

10. Emil Andre M. Garcia of Beverly Glen Townhomes, Lahug, Cebu City

11. Ma. Chona Y. Tiu of Pinata St., Northtown Homes Subdivision, Nasipit, Talamban, Cebu City

12. Mark Anthony Kindica of Borces Compound, Upper Bacayan, Cebu City

13. Noel Modesto of Kishanta Zen Residences, Lagtang, Talisay City

14. Bailey Del Castillo of M.L.Quezon St., Banilad, Cebu City

15. Jess Anthony N. Garcia of Paradise Village, Banilad, Cebu City

16. Joan Giduquio-Baron of Garnet St., Casals Village, Mabolo, Cebu City

17. Jasmine S. Oporto of Bonifacio, Global City

18. Francis Nicolas Voltaire E. Malilong of D. Tormis Ext., Sambag, Cebu City

19. Mailene M. Dela Torre of Merville Park Subd.  Merville, Paranaque City along with Wendel Peligro, Ernie Villarin, Jr.  a certain C. Tabares, L. Cruiz and a certain Mr. Albano from the VECO JCentre Mall office.

Tambis who is assisted by lawyers Vicente Fernandez ll and Vicente Fernandez lll claimed that his electricity was cut-off despite not failing to pay his monthly bills.

VECO allegedly through a “demand letter” signed by respondent Wendel Peligro, its Customer Retail Service Dept. Manager cited “VECO company seal deformed/Positive of Direct Tapping using a dummy/unregistered meter.

Tambis who owns Mineski Infinity-Junquera branch alleged that VECO wanted him to pay ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY PESOS AND TWENTY NINE CENTAVOS (P1, 150, 520.29) because of the alleged infraction which he strongly denied.

As a consequence his business closed-shop last July 5, 2018, without informing him and without his presence, his electricity connection was cut.

“Nasakitan gyud tawn ang akong kliyente. Negosyo gud na unya pabayron siya ug minilyon nga wala man siyay sala,” Atty. Fernandez ll told Newsph.org.

He said they wanted justice for whatever damages and losses to the business of his client.

Fernandez said, they wanted that the same electric meter (Meter No. BSV17044007, serial no. 41024177; VECO seal no. 2110683 and ERC seal no. 17Y2244427) be examined by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to really determine the alleged direct tapping/tampering of his client but VECO did not acceed to their request.

Fernandez added that they wanted to come up with settlement with VECO management but its officials which included some of the respondents merely ignored them and gave them run-around and insisted on their demand letter. They even have correspondence with VECO after a supposed Field Inspection Report by respondents Tabares and Cruiz but VECO sticked to their demand letter.

Atty. Ernie Villarin, Jr., a VECO lawyer was also included in the complaint because Villarin allegedly did not give proper advise to VECO.

“I am impleading him (Villarin) as respondent because he is justifying the incompetence of VECO personnel and used his knowledge of the law to threaten and strong arm me and my business into giving in to their baseless demand instead of giving then proper legal service.” Tambis said in his judicial affidavit dated Feb. 7, 2019 subscribed by Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Fatima Asjali-Maadil.

VECO Reputation Enhancement Manager Queenie Sanchez- Bronce was sought for her reaction by Newsph.org but had not acceded to the request up to this posting.

Asked why all the bigwigs of VECO were included in the Letter-Complaint in the prosecutors office,  Atty. Fernandez said his client wanted that the incident reached their attention.

As VECO officials per the registration on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), all of the respondents are responsible, Fernandez explained.

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