IN OUR column of July 3, 2018, “Water supply for Iloilo must be assured”, we mentioned of the new appointees made by Iloilo City’s Mayor Jose Espinosa III in the Board of the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) to replace the incumbent directors whose appointments, he said, were declared null and void based on a decision promulgated by the Supreme Court in Rama vs. Moises et al., G.R. No. 197146, on Dec. 6, 2016 and which became final and executory on Aug. 8, 2017.
As we mentioned in the same article, with the new appointments by Mayor Espinosa, Jeci Lapuz, acting administrator of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), ordered MIWD in his letter dated June 18, 2018 to submit its comments within 10 days from receipt thereof.
Now what happened?
Why should MIWD file a case against the city mayor when the appointments made are still pending for LWUA’s confirmation, and on which they are being asked for comment or even submit their objection?
MIWD’s corporate legal counsel said MIWD charged Mayor Espinosa criminally with two counts of usurpation of official functions and graft and corruption, which are in violation of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and, administratively, for grave abuse of authority, gross negligence, gross misconduct, and acts contrary to law.
Why can’t MIWD wait for LWUA’s decision and amicably settle its problem with the city mayor?
With the city of Iloilo having the biggest population among the areas served by MIWD’s franchise, we believe that filing a case against the mayor of a city with such a big client potential is ill-advised.
Is it correct that MIWD supplies only up to 21 percent of the city population at present? Then they greatly need to expand their customer base right in Iloilo City and its growing districts.
The Supreme Court decision cited by Mayor Espinosa as basis for making his appointments to the MIWD Board is a matter of public record. Why can’t MIWD verify it to make a good basis for its next move before its business relationship with the city is seriously affected and it loses its big customer base?
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Historical Quote of the Week
“The first Ilonggo Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science – Victorino Diamonon.” (For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/PN
