The Department of Justice has called on Iloilo City councilors Joshua Alim and Plaridel Nava to answer the anti-graft charges filed by Panay Electric Co. (Peco).
Peco accused Alim and Plaridel for allegedly using falsified documents to mislead both Senate and the House of Representatives and thwart the franchise renewal of Peco.
Alim, however, said he filed a motion for extension of time for 15 days because he only received the copy of the complaint and subpoena on September 3 and were required to submit on September 4.
“It’s impossible for us to do it,” Alim said.
In a filing before the DOJ, Peco administrative head Marcelo Cacho alleged that Alim and Nava used 27,000 fake signatures of Iloilo residents that paved the way for the non-renewal of its franchise.
Also included in the complaint was self-styled consumer advocate Jane Javellana, who also allegedly helped forged the said signatures.
Cacho said the persons involved jeopardized the supply of electricity to Iloilo City due to the use of falsified documents in Congress.
Cacho said: “Alim and Nava took advantage of their public office in order to deceive their own constituents into filing the falsified petition with thousands of fake signatures.”
“In using the falsified document bearing fake signatures at the before the Senate Committee on Public Services and House of Representatives, respondents Alim and Nava likewise committed the act prohibited under paragraph 4 of (the Revised Penal Code) Article 171, that is, making untruthful statements in a narration of facts,” Cacho added.
He said Alim and Nava can also be held criminally liable for violation of provisions of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Falsification and Use of Falsified Documents).
Cacho said such action “is a gross display of evident bad faith, as this shows their manifest deliberate intent to do wrong or cause damage to Peco.”
Aside from filing of the criminal complaint, Peco said it is seeking P100-million in damages as a result of the negative campaign against the company.