Last week, March 9, I received a text message from my mother. Apparently, there were Meralco people in our place who wanted to check the electric meters and have them transferred somewhere else. Some of my uncles initially refused but politely told them to secure first a letter coming from their office or from our barangay regarding their plan. They agreed and left but readily went back the following day, their numbers have added. But since they couldnt show any authorization, my uncles refused them entry.
Then just this morning (03/16/09), around 10:06am, may mother called. She was in frantic mode. There was an overkill in the way Meralco implemented their orders!
Imagine more than 5 service trucks, a number of service vans, more than 40 Meralco personnel, police and military people went to our place. If this isn’t grave harassment, I don’t know what you can call this. It was as if a melee, a riot or a gang war has just erupted that merited the presence of these men in uniforms. The traffic was practically halted. Our neighbors from accross the streets have come out to see what was happening. They made us looked like criminals! A cousin of mine tried to take pictures of these people, but one of the policemen shouted at her and stopped her from doing so.
Their purpose was to simply serve the letters that my uncles were asking from them. They presented each one of the owners of the electric meters a letter bearing the 'Customer's Liability' to Meralco that they are 'given permission by the customer to enter its premises without being liable to trespass to dwelling'. (Is this an absolute right? What about the right of the people to be secure in their houses as stated in the bill of rights?)
A refusal to such, would mean that they will disconnect the electric services.
According to my mother, at least four (4) of the seven (7) owners heeded to their will. But the Meralco personnel refused and told them that it has to be all 7 electric meters or the main line will be cut. Which they actually did.
Immediately when I got home, we (with my cousin and an uncle) went straight in Meralco Pasay Branch to seek clarification regarding what transpired earlier. Fortunately, Mr. Delos Reyes was there so we spoke to him. However, Mr. Delos Reyes admitted that he didnt know what happened and only learned of this when he opened his email and received the report together with an order not to have our electric services restored.
We tried to question the manner by which the procedure was implemented. Why disconnect the services of those who are already abiding to their will? Why were the letters served individually to the 7 families/owners and yet, the implementation they wanted was for the whole? Worse, after cutting off the source of our electric lines, all of them left off. Leaving us to wander if it was a legitimate operation or was simply their way of showing us who's the boss? Why only us? Why nothing of the same they did with any of our neighbors? Why were we subjected to such 'humiliation' by making it appear in our community that we were guilty of doing some crimes?
Mr. Delos Reyes, admitted that he can't do anything about what happened to us. Apparently, the decision came from the Pasig Metering Security, the same department where Mr. Acot is assigned. Leading me to conclude that it has something to do with the complaints I raised against Mr. Acot.
It was at this point that I learned from Mr. Delos Reyes that the previous letter I received practically came from this same department. Not entirely his. He would forward all my concerns to this 'group' and whatever this group says, that's what I get.
The PMS, apparently will, by hook or by crook, really stand by the report of Mr. Acot. He confirmed to us that no such thing as 're-investigation' is really happening because what the supervisors will do is just ask the inspector. And if the inspector says there is a violation, the supervisors will believe him and take the report as an immaculate truth!
This, in effect, gave us the impression that no case against any of their inspectors would prosper. In fact, I was already forewarned prior to this conversation, about filing an administrative case against VIC ACOT because, apparently, his superiors will just clear him of any misdoings.
Is this how justice works?
And all the while I thought Gods are only found in churches and myths...
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