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DoJ to charge Meralco over meter deposits

By Sherwin C. Olaes

05/09/2008

The government is drawing fresh blood in the feud between President Arroyo and the Lopezes after the Department of Justice (DoJ) said it will sue Meralco, in behalf of consumers, over the deposits in power installation that the power firm collects from consumers.

In a move to further pin down Meralco over its alleged dubious charges being passed on to their customers, DoJ Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the government will file the necessary charges to compel the power distribution firm to account for deposits for power meter installation.

In an interview with reporters shortly before the President visited the DoJ, Gonzalez said Meralco should account for the funds it collected as deposit for power meters and refund the money to those who moved to other areas or stopped using its service altogether.

“I think it may be possible for the government to do that (file a case in behalf of the consumers),” he said.

Gonzalez, however, said it would be better if the consumers themselves would initiate legal action against Meralco for such purpose.

“First the consumers can demand an accounting of that (fund) because the money collected from the consumers for these deposits consists of a trust fund. The consumers should be the one (to file a case in court),” he said.

“You see, when Meralco installs a power meter in your residence, you pay a deposit. But, for example, if you were in Sampaloc and then moved to Alabang, would they refund your deposit? Where is the money?” he added.

The Justice Secretary earlier said if Meralco refused to return the amount it could be held liable for estafa.

Despite this, Gonzalez dismissed talks of a possible government take over Meralco, saying the law only allows such move in case of an emergency situation.

“Well, the Constitution says that in the case of public utilities when there is an emergency — that’s a specific provision of the Constitution for a takeover of public utility,” he said.

“Among the possible justifications for a government takeover of a public utility like Meralco is, for example, if there are massive brownouts all over the country similar to what happened during the time of Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos,” Gonzalez noted.