WHY does Mr. Winston Garcia insist on representing the Government Service Insurance System in his fight with the Lopezes?
Does he really think that just because of his position in the GSIS, he represents all government employees? Has he tried to get their opinion? He is gambling with these employees’ future. The pension fund is not his alone. He is just its caretaker.
He will soon be out of office as soon as his bosses in Malacañang are either booted out or their terms expire. What will he do then? In my opinion, Mr Garcia might be diverting attention from his management of the pension fund altogether. His strategy seems to be to go after his neighbor’s trash so that his own trash won’t be looked at.
The Senate should start looking at the management of the pension fund. I’m not saying they’ll find anything there, but it’s worth it to take a cursory look at how it’s being managed being that it affects all past, present, and future government employees. Look at how the money is being invested, look at the balance sheets. It’s only fair we take a look at Mr Garcia’s backyard as well, not just the Lopezes. I’ll bet there are unwanted weeds and trash in his backyard that’ll need cleaning up or may lead to the eviction of its occupants.
– Bong Dignadice, Fontana, California (via e-mail)
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August 24th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
The DOJ has filed a non-bailable, syndicated estafa case against 16 Meralco officials. Is Gonzales capable of jailing the estafadors? Or is it just another palabas.
In order to audit Meralco, NASECORE should course their request through the ERC. If the request is based on valid grounds, the ERC must then request COA to audit Meralco books and accounts.
The Meralco is not a private enterprise of the Lopezes. It is a publicly listed distribution utility firm, franchised by Congress and regulated by the government through the ERC.
According to Supreme Court decision ( G.R. No. 141314 and G.R. No. 141369 ) …..”When private property is used for a public purpose and is affected with public interest, it ceases to be juris privati only and becomes subject to regulation,” also in the same decision, “The investor agrees, by embarking capital in a utility, ……. His company is the substitute for the State in the performance of the public service, thus becoming a public servant.”
Actually, the utility company should voluntarily subject itself to regular COA audit to gain the confidence of the public and the government.
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:25 am
COA can by all means audit Meralco being a company with installations in public areas with govt control.
Meralco is Lopez-controlled but it remains a public utility firm.
GSIS as one of the major stakeholders in Meralco is a crystal clear govt entity thus the Govt have part interest in the ownwership of Meralco. The very reason that COA can audit firms like Meralco.
The soonest COA can audit Meralco, the better for the public to know how much money is gypped by the unscrupoulus practices of the Lopez-led Meralco.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Meralco always had an accusing finger to Napocor on the high cost of generation.
Look whose big mouth is talking! Lopez is also adding to the high cost of the generation charge as the Lopez owned Meralco is also buying from the Lopez led/owned IPPs like Quezon Power and the others.
No numbers needed, plain and simple.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Villafuerte alleged that the Lopezes collected 19 B within the span of 3 years for the power that was never delivered. This, if computed for a period of 15 years, is comparable to what Napocor collected since 1993. The big difference is that the so-called Napocor-contracted IPPs do not belong to Napocor, while the Meralco-contracted IPPs belong to the Lopezes.
The public always find it detestable to see when big businesses used the defects of the law to cheat their customers.
August 15th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Hindi pa pala tapos itong thread na to. Paulit-ulit lang ang tanong, paulit-ulit din ang sagot kaya walang maresolve.
To settle some issues once and for all:
1. Systems loss was allowed by the framers of the EPIRA law. Short-sightedness brought us this problem. No one listened to us back then when we were opposing it. Now even Gloria’s fans are putting the blame on Meralco when they were the ones who crafted the law. They now even call for class suits. Stupidity at its worst!
2. EVAT on systems loss is more stupid. The “VA” in “EVAT” stands for value-added, why then should you tax a “Loss”? Of course, like thieves in the night, it’s the morons of congress who railroaded EVAT.
3. The motives of Garcia are impure. His family owns interests in Aboitiz-owned VECO in Cebu and are direct competitors of Meralco in the asset disposal of Napocor. His proposal to break-up Meralco’s franchise gave him away. If you look at the auctions of PSALM, it was either Lopez or Aboitiz who were awarded the plants. Without Meralco, who would have benefited? It doesn’t take rocket science to know that.
4. Meralco has 2 Natural Gas Plants, and one bunker-fed. But The price of NatGas has been indexed with Petroleum. Instead of running plants on cheaper fuel from an indigenous source, we still pay as if we are using Saudi Oil. Further, Government levies 25% royalties for this natural treasure. Not to mention, EVAT is added once the bill is passed to us poor consumers.
Who is therefore more greedy, Meralco or government?
5. The competitive price of power WORLDWIDE is only US 7 cents/kWhr, or about P3.15. How much is Napocor charging Meralco?
6. ALL POWER PLANTS constructed under the BOT scheme in Ramos’ watch are collecting Take-or-pay of half the total amount it passes to Meralco. Everybody, including Meralco is paying double for every kilowatthout capacity of a plant. Even if it is undergoing maintenance repair or when off-grid! Again this is the handiwork of Congress, which gave Ramos unlimited emergency powers. Is Meralco at fault or government?
Some people here quote Villafuerte who has said P19B was passed by the non-performing (yet) Lopez plants as Take-or-pay when in fact more than a HUNDRED BILLION was passed by Napocor’s IPPs since 1993.
Didn’t you notice it was a forest when you were looking at a tree?
7. Congress can yet redeem itself by correcting its past mistakes. But what has it done? What is it doing? Posturing for charter change to solve the Muslim conflict no one among them really wants to end?
If pro is the opposite of con, what is the opposite of progress?