SANTO TOMAS--Mayor Joselito Naguit yesterday publicly denounced the actions of Pampanga III Electronic Cooperative (Pelco-3) in the recent cutting off of the power supply of government buildings and streetlights on alleged debts of the town adding that it should be the power utility who should settle its tax obligations with the municipal government.
Naguit said that they estimate Pelco-3's tax obligations to more than P8 million.
Naguit and the power cooperative are at odds over electric bills. The Municipal Government of Santo Tomas went "powerless" recently after it failed to settle some P27-million in electric bill with Pelco-3 for the past eight years. Just a few days ago, Pelco-3 cut off power for some 437 municipal government-owned street lights.
Naguit said that Pelco-3 had earlier alleged that the municipality owes P27million. But Naguit is now wondering why the power utility is saying that the municipality owes P15 million for its streetlights.
"How did they count the bill for the streetlights when these do not even have electric meters?," Naguit said.
In can be recalled that in late 2012, when the reported multi-million arrears first cropped up, Naguit asked Pelco-3 to settle its business taxes for the electric power it distributes within the boundaries of the municipality, excluding regulatory tax and penalties of four percent and 25 percent surcharges.
This includes Pelco-3's substation at Barangay Pau, the machinery and equipment and electric posts in the facility.
"I am very surprised by the timing of the Pelco-3 actions against us. We are barely a few days in ending our term when they have decided to do such actions against the municipal government," Naguit said. Naguit added that the timing of Pelco-3's actions is very questionable.
Naguit said that he does not see any political motive behind the moves of Pelco-3 but he suspects that the personal hatred of Pelco-3 Sto. Tomas Director Eddie Raquiz against him is behind such actions. Naguit revealed that there was an incident wherein he came to the aid of the family of a constituent who were cut-off of their power supply by Pelco-3 after being unable to pay their bills.
He added that the family had a sick member and the family needed electricity to properly care for him. Naguit said that he reprimanded Raquiz for the incident and since then Raquiz and him had a falling out. Naguit said that Raquiz had since then made efforts to undermine him.
Sun.Star tried to get the director's comment on Naguit's allegations but he was unavailable as of this writing.
Naguit's legal counsel Atty. Francisco Macalino III said that Pelco-3 should also be diligent in settling its accounts with the municipality. He added that the town services would be at a disadvantage if government buildings and streetlights that light up thoroughfares for commuter and public safety would be deprived of electric supply.
Naguit said that the local government unit is one of Pelco 3's biggest consumers; he added that Raquiz should be more considerate of the situation of the municipal government which serves and represents the people.