Winston Garcia vs Meralco

A common trait among Filipinos is to find fault with a complainant, as if it would reduce the validity of his complaint.

For example, someone might say: "magnanakaw ka" and the reply would be "bakit, magnanakaw ka rin naman ah!". The clear meaning would be that his being a "magnanakaw" is not bad because the accuser is doing it as well. I think that is a Philo 1 fallacy.

Looking at Garcia's backyard will not reduce his accusations against the Lopezes. If the Lopezes erred, they should be investigated or replaced; Even if Garcia is found guilty for his own wrongdoings, it does not imply that the Lopezes are innocent, nor should it reduce the gravity of their accountability.

May 15,2008, finally a pensioner got his 2007 13th month pension after much unnecessary proddings and woeful communications to the GSIS office with which without those would not have been remitted at all. And to think that many ads are beng spent on prompt services. I suggest those pensioners who have not received yet their 13th month pension must collect by all means or else the money might be used to buy off the Meralco.

By mere searching his name returns numerous pages exposing his ill-management of the government wrokers' hard earned pension money. Apparently he is the palace favorite that even in 2004 amidst shameful controversy at the GSIS, he still clings to his post - siya itong "kapit tuko". I would like to ask him if there was at least a day in his life that he believe there is God. I can't help but think that his is the work of a God-less being.

There's nothing wrong if Mr. Dignadice made negative comments against the GSIS head, which to me, is not only laudable but aggressive in approach. Why not? The Senate should look into the "trash" of the GSIS, too, if it wants to for the sake of the millions of government employees. But I could only commend Mr. Garcia's high-handed tactics to intimidate Meralco on changing its management style considering that it has sheepishly duped millions of power consumers in Metro Manila, even lumping in the electricity bills, including the power pilferages made by unscrupulous people in the guise of billions of systems losses.

I don't want to surmise that Mr. Dignadice may either have an interest or once connected to Meralco so that his heart is still with the wrong doings of the power distributor's owners.

Is this Mr. Winston Garcia, the same GSIS personnel who is responsible in spending GSIS fund in buying paintings and artifacts because he considered this as GSIS investment strategy? Can someone dig more into this person who seems to self-appoint himself to battle the Lopezes? Bong Dignadice seems to know more about this GSIS bureaucrats appointee of Gloria's bogus government. Who is he and what contribution has he made to help GSIS contributors?

For the past few days, several articles have had been published regarding what had happened in the last Meralco's stockholders meeting. Both camps (Garcia's and Lopez's) have expressed their positions and their strategies. Amidst this battle that is fought with data and allegations, which we (consumers) could neither confirm nor deny what is true and what is not, there's one thing that I really noticed that was not given significant amount of effort. And the is the SEC CDO, is it really null and void, based on legal aspect rather than Meralco's point of veiw? If the said SEC CDO is indeed null and void and the only "excuse" SEC has is they forgot such details, that would be scary! How could they forget? Are they not supposedly the experts of their own process? Or they're (SEC) too eager to come up with something to serve their personal/political motives hence letting out something that is fabricated and didn't go through the right process was their option?

SEC should be answerable too on what had happened, because of the lack in quality of service, their CDO failed to servce its "purpose" and made the entire issue worst.

If there's no CDO, the stockholders meeting could have been different... could have ended with something positive for the consumers... and investors.

If the CDO was not null and void, the stockholders meeting could have been different... could have ended with something positive for the consumers... and investors.l

Do not believe everything you hear from the news, especially those from ABS CBN. It is so obvious all is sanitized in favor of the Lopezes. They selectively cut out speeches of administration officials and make up stories from it. I do not know much of Mr. Garcia to like or unlike him. What i do know is the high cost of electricity. If the Lopezes are tired of Meralco as they claimed they are, then they should let go. What's keeping them? Profit!

Hi BD, if you were resourceful enough, you'll learn that Garcia as head of GSIS and 3 others represent some 32 percent of the total government investments in Meralco and as such they sit in the Meralco board of directors. The issue against Meralco is not about the future of the pension fund or what happens to Garcia when he leaves GSIS but rather the allegations of abuses and unfair practices and mismanagement of the power company that brought the cost of power in the country as the second highest in the region after Japan.

The charges against Meralco are taken with serious concern since that company has been admonished twice by the Supreme Court for overcharging and was ordered to refund some 30 billion pesos to its customers much of which have not been done yet.

Meralco has the monopoly of electric distribution for so long and the Lopezes may be feeling today the back lash of their oligarchic ways in operating their businesses and using that power as a political tool. It seems the Lopezes have not learned from the Marcos experience.

garcia cannot do anything to reduce electricity cost to consumers. wait, he cannot do anything to relieve gsis members of their plight - late pensions, if they come at all!

meralco's hands are tied anyway. it is a franchise and what it can and cannot charge or pass-on to consumers as costs are provided by law. garcia is barking at the wrong tree. he should bark at congressmen and senators to review the franchise and revise it.

we have enough power regulatory laws and bodies. all of them have a certain budget. all of them have high profile managers. all of them ineffective! sayang lang taxes na binabayad natin.

hmmm....winston garcia? dami ghost projects GSIS under this kapit-tuko and aso ni gma...one example is the unfinished building infronf of Phil. Coconut Authority...the various systems devt na overprice, yung luxurious lifestyle nya and huge salaries and benefits mga GSIS top hierarchy, not to mention his contribution in 2004 election...now all of a sudden his making an issue as if he is the saviour of the masses against the oligarch lopezes, parehong buwaya nag-aaway. The most mind-boggling is Winston Garcia is acting as if he is the owner of the GSIS shares, a sign of arrogance and pakitang tao walang pinag-iba sa kanyang amo...for sure, issue will die down pag nakuha na nila ang gusto nila to buy time against corruption investigation and various human rights abuses of thi govt. Winston Garcia vs. Meralco is like Predator vs. Alien and/ or Nightmare on Elm St. vs. Jason...God save the our country

I AGREE WITH BONG DIGNADICE. WINSTON GARCIA SHOULD FIRST MAKE SURE THAT THE RETIRED EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES GET THEIR PENSIONS. MY DAD WAS AN HONEST AND EXEMPLARY SCHOOL OFFICIAL. WHEN HE RETIRED, HE HAD TO WAIT IN LINE IN THE HEAT FOR TWO DAYS EACH MONTH TO GET THE PENSION THAT HE RIGHFULLY DESERVED. THERE IS A LOT OF STRESS, HUMILIATION, AND FRUSTRATION THAT RETIRED EMPLOYEES GO THROUGH EACH MONTH. BUT BECAUSE MONEY IS SCARCE, MOST OF THEM JUST BEAR IT. MY DAD PASSED AWAY IN SEPTEMBER AND UNTIL NOW, ALMOST NINE MONTHS LATER, MY MOM HAS STILL TO SEE THE PENSION THAT SHE RIGHTFULLY DESERVES. WINSTON GARCIA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO HIS OWN BACKYARD FIRST BEFORE EMBARKING ON A BIGGER CHALLENGE LIKE MERALCO. IF HE CANNOT EVEN MANAGE GSIS RIGHT, HOW DARE HE EVEN THINK THAT HE CAN TAKE CHARGE OF MERALCO.

mr. garcia wanting a bigger share of the pie and control of the company is understandable. but, i just want to find out if we are being overcharged by meralco. is the government turning a blind eye because it will result in loss in revenue?

kami nga, we don’t even get the exact change when paying our bills. with 10 million customers multiplied by 10 cents or so, that would amount to quite a bit. meron ng system lost, meron pa rin change lost.

If Meralco is mismanaged as Mr. Garcia claims, how about the GSIS? How about the government bureaucracy? Which is better managed in this country, private business or government agencies? With so many clowns in our government agencies, it is no wonder that foreign investments consider the Philippines as the last country in Asia to invest in.

If the Government is supposed to be privatizing all Gov't controlled companies, what the heck are they trying to do? Is GMA behind this again? It seems like the Administration of GMA doesn't like the reports of ABS-CBN is broadcasting, so this would be a payback to the Lopezes.

Me and my family were just amazed when we saw on TV Mr. Garcia saying that Mr. Manolo(?) Lopez is an arrogant and a desperate person. We think he is actually describing himself.

From today's news these are what I surmised...

a proxy vote was conducted ahead of the scheduled stock election meeting. this allows the lopez's block to elect enough number of board members in favor of their interest. this is what Garcia is disputing, which he alleged to have been null and void since they conducted said election ahead of the scheduled meeting. Two groups are warring for control of Meralco, one representing the Lopezes and the other, the government. The common good of all, electric consumers is at stake. this is what happened when government infrastructure is left to the control of private groups who have connection with those occupying the government seats. missy

News quoted:

“All I need is the confirmation of the SEC that the results of the elections are without the invalidated proxies. Once this is confirmed, we will constitute the board and immediately appoint the management team of Meralco,” he told reporters Wednesday.

By late Wednesday, however, SEC officials could not confirm receiving the motion filed by the GSIS.

The SEC, on the other hand, moved swiftly earlier Wednesday after Meralco ignored its cease-and-desist order (CDO) issued on Tuesday questioning proxy votes for the Lopez directors in the stockholders’ meeting. It ordered Meralco to explain why it should not be cited in contempt.

‘Show cause’

In an order served to three of Meralco’s top officials, SEC Commissioner Jesus Martinez, acting with the concurrence of the commission en banc, directed Meralco to “show cause” why SEC should not penalize it for declaring as “null and void” SEC’s CDO.

Martinez gave Meralco until noon Friday to respond to its directive.

The SEC also set a hearing to get Meralco’s side on this matter, as well as to listen to its position on the petition filed by the GSIS on Tuesday challenging 1.9 billion proxy votes that were supposed to be cast in favor of Lopez associates during the company’s board elections.

“Your nonappearance at the said hearing will constitute a waiver of the right to be heard on the aforesaid matter,” Martinez said.

Null and void

Meralco declared the SEC’s CDO null and void, citing, among other reasons, the absence of a docket number, date and official seal of the commission.

It also said that since the fight between the GSIS and the Lopezes was an intracorporate matter, the regular courts should have jurisdiction over it.

SEC secretary Gerard Lukban said the show-cause order was served to Meralco chair Lopez, president Jesus Francisco, and acting corporate secretary Anthony Rosete Wednesday morning.

Lukban said the Court of Appeals was the proper body to declare an order by the SEC null and void.

He said provisions under the Securities Regulation Code and Corporation Code would allow the SEC to mete out a penalty of P50,000 to P5 million to and possibly imprisonment of Meralco executives on contempt charges.

“The commission’s act of issuing the CDO is an act as a regulator not as an adjudicator,” Lukban said.

He explained that as a regulator, which was similar to having police powers, the SEC had jurisdiction over matters that posed a risk to investor interest.

In seeking the CDO, the GSIS said the right of the investing public, including its right to an honest and fair election of Meralco’s board of directors, would be “trampled upon.” It said it was not an ordinary investor in Meralco since it represented 1.3 million GSIS members.

1.9-B questionable votes

Garcia said that per the tabulation of Meralco’s external auditor Sycip Gorres & Velayo (SGV) Tuesday night, there were 1,900,503,506 questionable proxy votes cast in favor of five nominees affiliated with the Lopez clan.

Approximately 380 million votes each were distributed among five Lopez nominees—Meralco vice chair Felipe Alfonso (380,100,701), Francisco (380,100,701), chair Lopez (380,100,702), director Christian Monsod (380,100,701), and another director Cesar Virata (380,100,701).

Garcia further claimed that the illegal votes edged out the fifth GSIS nominee, Eusebio Tanco, from getting a seat on Meralco’s 11-member board.

Based on Tuesday night’s tally, the Lopezes clinched five seats, keeping management of the 105-year-old power distributor. Four of the seats belonged to government while two were elected independent directors.

Garcia said that if the “illegal proxies” were not used, the reverse would have happened, with government controlling five seats with the addition of Tanco while the Lopezes would be reduced to four seats, without Virata.

The five government seats would have been occupied by him, Daisy Arce, Bernardino Abes, Jeremy Parulan and Eusebio Tanco. The four seats would go to Lopez, and associates Francisco, Monsod and Alfonso.

Independent directors Artemio Panganiban and Vicente Panlilio would be retained.

Legal requirements not met

Garcia accused Meralco management of amassing proxy votes ahead of the Meralco stockholders’ meeting without complying with legal requirements of how these proxies should be solicited. He said that the proxy forms were not dated, and that these were proxies from last year.

Meralco strongly denied the allegation.

The GSIS, in its motion filed with the SEC, asked the regulator to exclude the 1.9 billion questionable proxy votes and to confirm that the board of Meralco consists of the following: (representing five government seats): Garcia (943,843,841 votes); Arce (941,272,988), Abes (939,777,838), Parulan (927,120,201) and Tanco (880,183,654).

Representing the Lopez group would be Lopez (747,578,287), Francisco (746,077,757), Monsod (745,466,267), Alfonso (734,246,244).

The independent directors would still be Panganiban and Panlilio.

“We hope the confirmation will come as soon as possible so we can immediately reorganize Meralco with the end in view and in fulfillment of our commitment to lower power rates by 10 to 20 percent in a span of two months from the time we take effective management of the company. If we can’t deliver in two months’ time, our five-member team is committed to immediately resign,” Garcia said.

Monico Jacob, Meralco regulatory management chief, told reporters late Tuesday that the utility would confer with its lawyers on its next moves.

“We don’t know the extent of the sanctions that can be imposed (on us by the SEC). As far as we’re concerned, what we’ve done is legal and no sanctions are due us,” he said.

Francisco said he was expecting the SEC’s show-cause order. “Our lawyers will have to frame an appropriate reply,” he said, before rushing off to a board meeting at Meralco headquarters Wednesday.

Meralco shares drop

the issue here is not management or mismanagement which we filipinos are always untrustfull unsuspenting with our leaders.
the issue here is not garcia vs meralco, not personal but corporate ;the issue of election of officers in meralco's board, as we all know gsis has a 23% shares of the company.
mr garcia is doing his right and duty to represent the government by way of gsis being the president and that is mandated by law or by sec.

why always associate wrong doing? why always think otherwise.
these people are duty bound to do their job, let them do their work. if there is wrongdoing, misuse of pension fund, let the COA do its work. we cannot just speculate and conclude wrongdoing by way of our thinking.

let's be trustful once in a while if we trust ourselves.

The news on the Winston Garcia & Meralco controversy is a matter of public interest and beneficial to consumers, readers and viewers. Both sides of the controversy should be aired. The controversy gives us a chance to monitor whether the media men of ABS/CBN-ANC are giving/will give a positive slant of the news in favor of Meralco (its sister) and the negative slant against GSIS, represented by Mr. Garcia. Objective coverage of the controversy by all media practiioners is suggested so that we will have an informed judgment which side is right on every aspect of the controversy. Until then, we should withhold judgment.

It is unconscionable, if not criminal, for an electric distribution utility firm to deliberately purchase energy far in excess of their actual system requirements and passed the cost of the unused/undelivered energy to its customers in order to benefit the affiliated energy suppliers. The ERC should not allow this kind of onerous practice because it opens the floodgates to massive cheating. If there is evidence of such a connivance, then both the utility firm and its suppliers must be charged with fraudulent and unethical business practice. The guilty parties must be jailed.

In order to make an utility firm more responsible in its energy purchases, all unused power must be paid by the company and considered as part of its operational loss. It is now for investors to monitor whether the distribution utility firm is exercising due diligence in analyzing its power requirements before it enters into any energy purchase contract. Otherwise, their share of profits may also end up in the laps of the affiliated energy suppliers.

some posters here blame meralco for high power prices. I bet these same people know zilch about electricity and the power industry.
high power prices? what power plants are around us but not with us? nuclear power. meralco's fault that napocor did not build a nuke plant?

as the saying goes: big mouth, big wind

About the Garcia vs. Lopez debate (it is not really Meralco vs. GSIS) looking at it from the view of pa-pogi epek Garcia - his point should be taken as an investor - a big one at that - BUT somebody must tell Garcia, that he, by his very own DIRTY hand, singlehandedly caused share price erosion becuase of his big bad mouth, YAKKING all the negative words which erodes the shareholder worth thus I being a GSIS member am now on the losing side because by the very hot air of Garcia he is destroying my hard earned money in GSIS ... the progfligacy of Garcia is brought about by the fact that he plays around with the money of the GSIS members damn the members as long as he gets his 5 centavo worth of air time. By the way, ask any GSIS member if we get the quality and professional service and financial windfall from GSIS that Garcia brags about --- the answer is a BIG FAT BAD GSIS SERVICE ---

In his fight with the Lopezes, Winston Garcia is representing the interest of the GSIS members which hold a majority share in Meralco.

Winston Garcia wants to make sure that Meralco is not cheating its consumers which include majority of the government employees. He wants to know if the consumers were over-charged to benefit First Gas, a Lopez-owned energy supplier, in which the GSIS has no investment participation. He wants to know if Meralco cheated the investors, including the GSIS, by funneling its profits through purchase transactions with Lopez-affiliated companies. In a nutshell, Winston Garcia does not want the GSIS to be cheated by the Lopezes.

As the head of the GSIS, Winston Garcia has his own duties and responsibilities, and he better keep his nose clean; but why ask the Senate to investigate the GSIS when we are not sure that they can find something there? Are we not spending precious funds sending the Senate on a fishing expedition? What is required initially is to check with the GSIS auditors and other government auditing agencies to see if there are possible anomalies.

By the way, do not also over-rely on our senators, some of them may be worse than Winston Garcia in intelligence and honesty.

The promdi named Winston Garcia fell flat on his face when he tried to maneuver the governments tactics into the Meralco stockholders meeting using the Energy Regulatory Board as his tool. Does he not know that this is MetroManila and that promdi's antics will not prosper here? Next time he should bring his handlers Senators Miriam Santiago and Juan Ponce Enrile (and PGMA herself) along so they can all wallow in the muck of their corrupt minds and ways. Sino ba lolokohin nila kung sino talaga ang tunay na nagpapataas ng electricity rates. It is the corrupt ways of this Arroyo government exemplified by the NBN-ZTE scandals, the P500,000 pamasahe for the congressmen who go to lick the hands of PGMA in Malacanang and the never liquidated billions in pork barrels of congressmen. All these money being shouldered by the Filipino people. The domino effect of this corruption in government is the reason why electricity rates are high and not the other way around.

from what i've heard, watched and read from both lopez and non-lopez controlled propaganda...there are two main cause of high electricity:

1. the law
2. the government taxes

that's it. blame the government first because the electric industry is a highly regulated industry. which means...just in case you don't know...meralco can't move without the government approving what they're charging.

revise the law but then again the other eletricity companies including those controlled by the Garcias will complain. so will this have an end? i don't think so :)

Mon Duenast Says
Profit???

if not for profit...why would you go into business?

Many people are barking at the wrong tree.

The issue is THE HIGH RATE OF ELECTRICITY, HOW TO BRING IT DOWN. Its not the GSIS problem, thats different. If some people have problems with GSIS, then take it to a different forum, and focus in these issue on how to bring down the electricity rate.

ALL OF THEM are the clulprits in the high cost of electricity:

Napocor's high generation charges.

ERC's inneficiency as a watchdog and rulings are serve in a silver platter to Meralco.

Meralco's greediness in profit. The reason why they are ordered by the SC to refund twice.

Instead of name calling, why not focus on how to bring the cost down? Meralco, Napocor and ERC should tighten their belts as well for the benefit of the people who are bombarded with price increase from all sides.

Goodday to all, who will be the loser???

God Bless Philippines

Kidlat

PerryScope

by Perry Diaz

The Arroyo-Lopez War

Finally, after almost 80 years of a family feud between two wealthy clans, it seems that the final battle has started. On one side of the conflict is the Arroyo clan, wealthy merchants of Chinese origin who gained political supremacy in the early 1900's when their patriarch, Jose Arroyo, was elected Senator in 1919. With the help of his close friend -- then Senate President Manuel L. Quezon -- his younger brother, Dr. Mariano Arroyo, was appointed provincial governor in 1928.
On the other side is the Lopez clan headed by Eugenio "Ening" Lopez who used his newspaper El Tiempo -- founded in 1901 by his father, Benito Lopez, the first governor of Iloilo in 1906 who was assassinated two years later by a rival political faction -- to expose the jueteng ring that Governor Arroyo and a Chinese trader named Sualoy started in Iloilo. El Tiempo's incessant exposure of the jueteng operations finally paid off. Sualoy was charged, found guilty, imprisoned, and then deported to China.
That was the beginning of the Arroyo-Lopez War. As a result of the crackdown on the jueteng operations, Governor Arroyo filed a libel suit against Lopez and El Tiempo. Lopez retaliated by filing administrative charges against Governor Arroyo. Governor General Davis was also informed about the case and he sent Judge Francisco Moran to investigate. Moran discovered that Governor Arroyo was involved in the jueting operations including a gambling den. Consequently, Moran dismissed the libel charges against Lopez and his newspaper. In 1930, the administrative trial found Governor Arroyo guilty of corruption and Governor General Davis relieved him from his post.
Humiliated, Jesusa Lacson Arroyo, the widow of Senator Arroyo who died in 1927, picked up the pieces and moved her entire family to Negros Occidental. One of her sons, Ignacio, would become the father of the current First Gentleman, Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo.
Meanwhile, Eugenio Lopez progressed in business and his brother Fernando entered into politics and was elected three times as Vice-President. Don Eugenio established the first airline in Asia and expanded his newspaper business. In 1962, he purchased Meralco, the country's largest electric company. His son, Eugenio "Geny" Lopez, Jr., built ABS-CBN to become the country's undisputed leader in broadcasting.
In 1972, the Lopez family suffered under the martial law regime of Ferdinand Marcos. Geny Lopez was implicated in an alleged plot to kill Marcos. Under obscure circumstances, Lopez escaped from detention and slipped out of the country. Marcos' brother-in-law, Kokoy Romualdez, then took over Meralco. When Marcos was ousted in 1986, Cory Aquino returned Meralco and ABS-CBN to the Lopezes.
For more than 20 years, the Lopezes had undisputed control of Meralco. They also diversified into new business ventures. Over the past several years, ABS-CBN became a pain in the neck of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Their coverage of the various scandals involving the First Couple have contributed to the Arroyos' negative public image.
It is no wonder then that Meralco is now in the crosshairs of President Arroyo's sight. The joint congressional hearing chaired by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and Congressman Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo has stirred into life a family feud that has been dormant for 78 years. There were speculations that the real reason for the Meralco "witch hunt" is for the government to take over Meralco and break it up into smaller companies. If this would happen, guess who would take over a divested Meralco?
Let's look at someone who has been at the forefront of the battle: Winston Garcia, President and General Manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). His aggressive and arrogant demeanor in the Meralco board room -- he is a recent member on the Meralco board representing GSIS which has 23% ownership of Meralco -- has made a lot of people wonder what his ulterior motive is. Many believe that Garcia is on the board to wage a "proxy war" for the Arroyos.
For one thing, Garcia is not the typical government bureaucrat. He is a scion of a powerful political dynasty in Cebu with close ties to Malacanang. His father, Pablo, is a congressman and concurrently Deputy Speaker of the House. His brother, Pablo John, is also a congressman. And his sister, Gwendolyn, is the current Governor of Cebu. She announced recently that she is a candidate for Vice President in 2010.
In addition, the Garcia family has large stockholdings in the Aboitiz-owned Visayan Electric Company (VECO), the country's second largest private electric utility. The corporate officers include three Garcias, to wit: Dennis A. Garcia, President and General Manager; Ramontito A. Garcia, Treasurer; and Jess Anthony N. Garcia, legal counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary. Of the 11 members of the VECO Board of Directors, five are Garcias, namely, Dennis N.A. Garcia, Ramontito E. Garcia, Gil A. Garcia II, Charles Sylvester A. Garcia, and Antonio V. A. Garcia de Escaño. The Aboitizes, have five members of the Board. Recently, a news account reported that Winston Garcia is serving VECO as a lawyer on retainer. The question is: What would VECO -- and Winston Garcia -- stand to gain if Meralco were broken up into smaller companies?
It is also a common knowledge that the Aboitizes are business cronies of the First Couple. With the Lopezes trying hard to defend themselves from a pack of wolves, it would probably take a miracle to survive these attacks. But miracles do happen and they happen when it's least expected to happen. And the last and final question is: What would the Arroyos stand to gain when Meralco breaks up?
(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)
Dear Friends:

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Editor

It's called motivation. whatever they are, only Mr. Winston Garcia knows it.

People, the public, benefit from it.

Lets focus on the ball, folks. Issues. whats happening in Mr Garcia's domain is a seperate issue. one at a time, folks.

Garcia blames misdeeds of Meralco, even he sits as a director in Meralco. Why he did not know about all wht now he blames already long ago? Is he such a bad official? Then he has nothing to get as a controllng boss of Meralco. Besides, considering all the allegations and complaints about GSIS, he would better look at hios own problems. He has really not the reputation for to make power cheaper, maybe he just would invest profits in art to beautify his offices at Meralco. Change that crazy contracts with the "independent power uppliers" so that they will not paid for never delivered power and at exorbitant overpriced rates. This could help to lower power rates.

Winston Garcia, after so many years at GSIS, has neither vastly improved its services nor changed the negative opinion of most of its retirees. And yet he crusades into Meralco screaming mismanagement. Managing GSIS should be a fulltime job so I just wonder what he is doing wasting time raising thunder and lightning in another company? Mr. Garcia, a lot of your retirees, teachers, postmen, clerks among others, are dying, literally, while waiting for your checks to arrive while you fight a fight that is not yours in the first place. You are paid a princely sum to be a good GSIS commissioner and not to be a MERALCO crusader. I hope history will judge you as the guy who turned GSIS around and not as a notorious trapo who tried to curry favors with malacanang by doing its hatchet jobs, so-to-speak.

Meralco is buying most of its electricity from Lopez-owned Generating Plants at much higher price than at National Power Corporation. Meralco takes advantage of its monopoly of distributing electricity to rake profits for the Lopezes' Generating Plants. Result - higher cost for the people. Meralco from news award contracts for big ticket items to Lopezes' owned-companies. Result-easy profit for the Lopezes. The meter deposits? The one month advance deposit? In case the customer fails to pay his monthly bill? Bulshit. When you don't pay, Meralco immediately disconnects your service.

The Lopezes cannot thrive on competition. Look at their Bayantel, Maynilad, Manila Chronicle - all losers. North Expressway? Have we forgotten the controversy in congress and how the toll fee increse by about 500%.

Calling the oppositions, cause-oriented groups, please help the people on this Meralco issue. The people will love you for this.

The Phil. Daily Inquirer, your Editorial especially? You only see bad things in everything GMA does but overlook valid issues against Meralco. Why???

To Mr. Garcia, you have the support of those who see what Meralco is really doing. Please continue your crusade.

i agree w/ bamm, DLR, harry king and al...

if garcia has his own trash in his backyard, it does not diminish the gravity of any wrongdoing meralco has done to its consumers. the people have been suffering under their mismanagement, its time they let go. that is what one lopez said, right?

Well.... I admire Garcia in bringing up this matter. I'm sure he is ready for the consequences of his action. He knows that the offended party (and its allies) will take action against him. Just like what Bong Dignadice is doing.

Whatever happens, we should thank Garcia because he did the right thing and we expect some positive results to this.

Mr. Bong Dignadice, for your info when Mr Garcia took over as head of GSIS, he made alot of changes in GSIS, e.g. salaries of teacher, pension fund, investment and the to this date GSIS with a savings of billion of pesos. the lopezes are making a lot money .

ok. meralco is being mismanaged by the lopezes. but, if Mr. Garcia truly cares for the small gov't employees, who truly owns the gsis... then he or the gov't should not try to take it over.
If the lopezes are not good, i don't think Garcia or any gov't appointed manager, is any better.
Look at the COC's...

While I somehow agree with Mr. Dignadice`s sentiments as to Mr. Winston Garcia`s use of his position to represent GSIS against MERALCO, we should also seriously consider of the long nagging problem of MERALCO abuses which has gone unnoticed since the Cory administration`s turnover of the power utility company back to the Lopezes, save alone for the persistent senate speeches and attempts of Senator Enrile to lambast the aforesaid MERALCO debacle. Long since someone else spoke openly against these corporate malpractices committed by the power distribution firm against the consumers. Call it a judgment call on the part of Mr. Garcia, as he represents the government interests, which happen to represent the people's paramount interests. But be as it may seem in the eyes of Mr. Dignadice's eyes that Mr. Garcia's motives are questionable, I still am happy that finally a stronger voice of the majority silently but oftenly cursing at the court proven abuses of MERALCO has risen to this occasion. The Filipino migrants should not be blind to this!

Galit ang Magnanakaw sa kapwa Magnanakaw.... Greediness is next to richness. Please have mercy on the innocent people that you feed upon. God will give the verdict after all.

Yes Missy, you are referring to the same person, the one and only Mr. Winston Garcia, the President and GM of GSIS.

I read a lot of articles about him citing irregularities with the way he manages GSIS. Check out this link from inquirer.net

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20080511-135782/GSIS_A_govt_system_without_service

He came out lately like a “Knight in Shinning Armor out to slay the dragon” to rescue us, the helpless power consumers, from our oppressor. Only those who are not informed will believe him. Too much politics can really be so tiring.

I am more inclined to believing that all of his allegations is just a divertionary tactic for us to forget the real and depressing issues out there.

Boggart may have a point that Mr. Garcia might be barking at the wrong tree. I guess if our gov officials are really sincere about bringing down the cost of electricity, they should also investigate and act swiftly on other entities like Napocor and even the absurd and excessive taxes our gov is charging in our bills

Meralco was awarded as one of the Top 20 of the 2007 ICD Corporate Governance Scorecard for Publicly listed Companies by the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) on May 28, 2008 in Makati City.

The citation was signed by Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao, Chairman of the Institute of Corporate Directors; Atty. Fe B. Barin, Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Atty. Francis Ed. Lim, President of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE); and Atty. Cesar L. Villanueva, Dean of the Ateneo Law School.

Meralco rated high in the corporate governance scorecard that measures public disclosure through the regulators, the exchange and its corporate website and corporate reports. ICD is an independent and autonomous institute that champions corporate governance reforms in the country.

The more best practices a company has, the higher its score.

The corporate governance scorecard rates all publicly listed corporation’s on compliance with and actual practice of corporate governance compared with national, regional and international standards. It was a “person-on-the-street” test: it relies on public disclosure.

isnt it ironic that one of the main issue being hurled against meralco by winston garcia is disclosure? now we should wonder, what about the disclosure of winston as regards to his expenses in his campaign against meralco including the legal fees, ads, and stay in crowne plaza?

Winston Garcia is like a CAFGU (Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit) which follows order from the superior officers in attacking the MERALCO where the Lopezes have majority shares.

High costs of electricity should not be blamed on the Lopezes or MERALCO because the're just charging the consumers what the law is telling them to charge... charges on generation charge, power losses, distribution charge etc are being so provided in the power act which was enacted by Congress in the previous years.

Why is Mr. Garcia attacking MERALCO simply because his bosses have interest in it. What interest? of course to take over the management and the power sector using GSIS as a legal entry point... of course 2010 election is fast approaching so full court pressure should be employed to win the game... only the ignorant can't understand the game...

Lopezes are very influential in business and politics all over the archipelago.. they have clout which strong enough win a candidate for president... they have armaments which can destroy opponent... that theory is very simple.

On the other hand, does Mr. Garcia really representing us (GSIS Member)? I don't think so, simply because he cannot even reduced the GSIS premium to the very least but instead collect and collect higher premium contributions from member who are being used as milking cow... retired employees took hard in collecting what they have paid to GSIS... now Garcia is telling that he just merely representing and protecting GSIS members interest in MERALCOs share.. does he??????

The government has no business taking over publicly-listed companies. The government’s job is to regulate businesses. The power industry is highly regulated. If power cost is high because of overcharging by Meralco, then ERC, the agency mandated to regulate Meralco, is not doing its job. Mr. Garcia should take over ERC to lower power cost. If the government cannot run its own agency, ERC, effectively, what makes them think they can run Meralco better?

The issue about Meralco is about allegation of unfair pratice & mismanagment. The issues are not being answered by the Lopez group because perhaps they think that they are above the rest.
It's unfortunate that we have to give political color to the issue or even velify Mr. Garcia. Because in reality all that Mr. Garcia is doing is defending consumers rights.
We areeally are a very strange people not tp appreciate what he is doing when at the same time we hope to have lower power bills.
Makes me wounder what does the pinoy really want & how does he propose to achive it.
Insted it's all about a personality game. Who is more maganda ang dating sa tao. maybe the Lopez have the upper hand since they give us non stop entertainment.
Mr. Garcia is not a likable person insted.
Sad, that we can be such a superficial society & it's impossible to understand the real issues.
We seem to resist change in whatever form.
It is like giving the Lopez group a blessing that they can go ahead & continue their mismanagment while we are burdened by heavy power bills.
The Lopez group must really love the pinoys.
Ang daling lokohin!!!!!!!!

Perhaps the real problem about the Lopez group is that they are GREEDY!!!!
The signal that they send is Meralco is theirs & theirs alone!!!
Over thgeir dead body can anybody take it away from them!!!!
Thsi selfish attitute automatically closes the door for change & better ways of doing things.
The Lopez group is actually telling us all that there is nobody else who can do a better job then them!!!!!
In the world of real business nobody is indespensable.
Anyone w/ better ideas & innovative way of doing things is always welcome.
But in the Lopez world, everything insted is a matter of "private property".
The issue has deteriorated into a "personal matter".
If anyone looks into the business history of the Lopez group. Theya re not one who run their companies very well. Look at bayantel & maynilad. Not even abs-cbn is doing that good even when they say they are #1.
The issue is purely a business matter. It's only the Lopez group who is projecting themselves as some sort of underdog & giving the issue political color.
It's really a business. It's about who can deliver the goods at the most resonable price.
Winston garcia is challenging the Lopez group, but the Lopez group is not man enough.
For the Lopez group Meralco is literaly a symbol of "power".
The Lopez got hit hard during martial law because they where the symbol of the oligarchy.
The oligarchy that wants to be stronger then the State.
The strange thing in this country is that when the State tries to do something that is in defence of the consumers. It's the overment yet that is wrong.
If the goverment through the GSIS does not do anything to defend the consumers then who will?
Or are the consumers telling the Lopez group that what they are doing is OK.
Why don't all those consumersin defence of the Lopez group lead a march to show their support to the Lopez group & tell them what a good job they are doing managaing Meralco & there is no one ellse who can do it better!!!!

Im confused with people saying that Meralco's profit is dictated by law or thru ERC's blessing?

Ang dali niyo naman maniwala! The fact that they were ordered by the SC to refund twice only shows that they are charging higher than the usual.

If they are really willing to help the people, its only a matter of tightening their expensive belts, sacrificing just a few of their profits, their IPP's and same with Napocor. Suspending VAT on those who consume minimal electricity, specifically on the households. For sure electricity rate will be cheaper.

I’m a stockholder of Meralco and I did not vote for Mr. Garcia. If he really wants to lower power rate, he should take over ERC since it approves all power rate petitions. After all, he’s a close ally of the President. There’s no need to take over Meralco.

On the other hand, if Mr. Garcia just wants to take over Meralco, then all these talk of lowering power rate is foolish from a corporate raider’s viewpoint. He might have won the proxy fight if he just said I want to take over Meralco to enrich all the stockholders of the company. After all, that’s what stockholders want to hear: more dividends and higher stock price. But he’s playing corporate raider and pretending consumer activist at the same time. He did a lousy job in both.

Perhaps the real problem about the Lopez group is that they are GREEDY!!!!
joey..the issue of meralcos monopoly is partly blamed to the govt who allowed to give them long franchise instead of inviting new players in power distribution industry. and dont blame the lopezes for being a power player in the philippines because it is part of of business and politics not only here but in other countries.The only questionable issue is the timing of this arrogant winston garcia and all of a sudden meralco is their favorite target. We know the greedy practice of business and meralco is a business entity so part lang yun ng so called "business practice"
But the real issue mali na yung timing, mali pa yung tao na naka front ala "joan of arc" and for what reasons?
hmmm...if this govt and previous govt is consistent on their policies to reduce power charges maraming paraan and kaagarang maipapatupad nila ang kaso may ibang agenda ang magaling na pinuno ng GSIS at hintayin na lang natin ang tunay na motibo ng biglang pag-iingay ni Winston Garcia.
ang bayan ng pinas laging naiipit sa mga awayan ng magnanakaw, buwaya at mga ganid. Iisa lang naman ang gusto ng bawat grupo na mas makalamang sa isang grupo.
and with this issue, malacanang again prevails with their strategy to divide public opinion and buy time from the real issues of corruption and human rights
abuses.
ano na naman kayang isyu ang susunod na bubuksan ng malacanang mafia at arroyo corrupt-poration?
God save our country

Meralco is like a dragon that spits fire but unseen fire called electricity. That's why nobody dares fight that dragon.
Like water, electricity is a necessity. It is part of our basic life, that's why poor or rich alike are consumed to electricity whether legal or jumper electric.

That's why when we talk of Meralco, it means electric. Meralco is a monopoly. It has control over its consumers when it comes to power rate, though it maybe a regulated franchise public utility. But when electric is burdened on the shoulder of our poor pinoys, then it is time for government to act against this giant.

Whenever people complains of high price, the blame is always to Arroyo being head of the state. But piecing it together, like a domino, it starts and ends where it begins. Just like electricity, when the price goes high, it has a ripple effect of affecting everyone and most affected are the lowly pinoys, the cause of high price, the electricity.

Mr. Garcia has every right to contest the nomination of the Lopezes to run the franchise,being the head of GSIS which has a stake in the company. Good Mr. Garcia is doing it by law, the SEC law and not like a Marcos law where the only reason for takeover was Mr. Martial and its law and the reason it affected the general welfare of the people.

My sister teacher is retired and I never heard her complained about her pension check, that means the GSIS is handling and handing her contribution back. I never heard of Mr. Garcia pocketing commission out of the agency's investment unlike what we read about Eraps.Yet, many are speculating the misuse, mismanagement of the system which is a general perception without evidentially basis.
What can you expect from people of paranoiac mentality where there is always suspicious mind.

When the rice crisis occured, the government was there to control and sell the rice cheaper to the poor.
With the power rate unaffordable to the poor, the Arroyo government is putting 2 billion subsidy for those who cannot afford to pay the electric. It is a good news.
See, the government is there to help and yet nobody appreciates but complains.

As the sun gives light in the day, Meralco gives light at night. But the solar power is free while Meralco's power is not only free but costly. That's why our poor people whose only diversion is to watch their favorite tv show whether by regular programming or cable is deprived, though they have their jumper electricity.

Meralco's rate should be regulated. It should not be a burden.
As they say, there will be light in the end of the tunnel.

Meralco is making money more than it should be. It charges its customers the highest rate in Asia or anywhere else in the world. Those are among the heavy volleys made by Mr. Winston Garcia of the GSIS, or Government Service Insurance System, directed at the Lopezes of Meralco.

the gsis 'concern' for the electricity consumers is hearwarming. however, several govt employees are, up to now June 3, 2008, unable to get educational loans from the gsis.
perhaps in its zealous attempt to wrest control of meralco, the gsis forgot the people it was created to serve: the govt employees

Winston Garcia is only protecting the interest of GSIS members whose money are invested in Meralco, which unfortunately he has no power to implement his ideas due to sheer lack of numbers at the board. I believe all GSIS members should support him. Do they want their money to grow or shrink? If they want their money to grow, they should do something to make Meralco profitable so that it can declare more dividends. If Meralco remains laggard, it is only serving the interest of the Lopezes for while Meralco may be losing, other Lopezes companies supplying Meralco are making big bucks. Meralco has only become an instrument for making money via indirect billings.

I am appalled all government employees or GSIS members who are opposed to Winston's fight when he is fighting for the interest of GSIS members.

Politics should be set aside because this is all about protecting savings and earning more dividends