Comelec’s phone line was disconnected in May 2004 because of unpaid phone bills.
Provincial Election Supervisor Edwin Cadungog had complained that Globe did not reconnect their line even after they paid their obligation.
He sent his complaint to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) 7.
public interest
Globe’s legal officer Mac Gordon insisted that Comelec still has unpaid phone bills amounting to P5,213. But for the sake of public interest and public service in time for the May 14 election, they agreed to reconnect it even if the bill has yet to be settled.
As a matter of policy, Globe does not reconnect telephone lines until all phone bills are paid.
In an interview yesterday, Cadungog said they do not have any unsettled bill and that Globe should check their records.
Cadungog had said a delay in the delivery of checks from Manila and unofficial long distance calls led to the disconnection of their telephone line.
Now that their phone line has been reconnected, he appealed to his subordinates not to use the phone in making personal long distance and cellular phone calls.
Cadungog admitted it would be hard to monitor all phone calls especially when he is out of the office.
Although a phone feature allows long distance call barring, he is not the only one who knows the PIN code used to unlock the feature, he said.
Also, it has to be left open so the phone can be used to call their other offices outside Cebu even if the one who knows the PIN code is out of the office.
Disconnected telephone lines are an old problem of the Comelec provincial office. Its phone line was also disconnected in May 1999 and in 2001. (MBG)
