KBK V KBK: Consumer groups bicker over MORE-PECO row

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

 

A consumer group in Iloilo City slammed another faction for allegedly misrepresenting a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered organization in favor of another distribution utility.

Halley Alcarde, president of Koalisyon Bantay Kuryente (KBK), Inc., said their group is duly registered with SEC with Registration No. CN202069462.

KBK claims to be a coalition of various organizations including the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative, Division Federated Parents-Teachers Association of Iloilo City, Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, the Church sector, the media, and the advocacy group Bawal Ang Korap.

In a statement, Alcarde lamented how a certain Jose Allen Aquino and a certain Ruperto Supena used the name of KBK to attack MORE Power which replaced Panay Electric Co. as the sole power distributor in Iloilo City.

“Not only are they misrepresenting our organization, they are misleading the public in telling the Manila press that their sentiment is the sentiment of the Iloilo consumers. They have used KBK and its identity without permission. We did not give them that mandate. For the record, these two are not in any way connected with the KBK and cannot speak on behalf of our thousands of members,” Alcarde said.

Aquino and Supena conducted a virtual press conference with members of the Manila media yesterday purportedly after “KBK” filed a complaint with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to demand compensation from MORE Power for what they claimed were ‘systems loss charges’.”

“Well, they can attack MORE Power all they want; they have the freedom to do that as consumers. But to mislead the public into thinking they are backed by the Iloilo community and the real KBK in their smear campaign against MORE is unforgivable.”

Alcarde said he is calling for a special meeting today of the KBK Board of Trustees to address the issue and for the organization to take a firm stand against the Aquino and Supena group.

He added that they will inform ERC that “we have nothing to do with Aquino and Supena’s claims.”

Alcarde said they will also consult their legal counsel to discuss what charges they can file against Aquino and Supena “to stop them from further misrepresenting not only KBK but the power consumers of Iloilo City as well.”

“We already have our hands full dealing with the COVID-19 virus. We should not allow other viruses to infect the minds of people and sicken them,” Alcarde said.

While they do not want to take sides between MORE Power and PECO, Alcarde said the new distributor is doing a better job so far.

“Although we wish not to take sides on the issues between PECO and MORE Power, it is our common stand that Iloilo City is far better with MORE Power, especially as we see day-to-day improvements of the distribution services. Of course, there are also downsides, but we are mindful of the fact that the power anomalies and outages we are experiencing right now are a result of PECO’s severely underdeveloped distribution facilities and neglect,” he added.

He also demanded an explanation and apology from Aquino and Supena.

“Our association, being the legitimate representative of the Iloilo City power consumers, cannot and will not ignore these acts of misrepresentation by Aquino and Supena; they owe us and the public an explanation and an apology,” he said.

 

ADVOCACIES AND ISSUES ONLY

In a statement to Daily Guardian, Aquino said they are verifying Alcarde’s claim that their group is registered with SEC.

Citing their online search of SEC database, they cannot ascertain the registration name and number presented by the KBK-Alcarde group.

But if ever Alcarde’s claims are true, Aquino said they will just change the name of their group and continue with their advocacies.

“If ara gid man, ma-change kami sa BKB or KKB. What we need is the SEC Registration Certificate of KBK,” he added.

Aquino said they are not siding with anyone, especially in the dispute between MORE Power and PECO, as they are more about issues besetting the power sector in Iloilo City.

He added that even established organizations differ on varied issues.

“Coalition is not a permanent group man e. Issue base man lang kami. May pro-Duterte, may pro-Akbayan, may pro-Alab Katipunan, may-pro Makabayan. What is important is the alarming beyond the cap systems loss charges.”

As to the complaint they filed with the ERC, Aquino said they will wait for the decision on the systems loss charges of MORE Power.

“If proven right, then MORE needs to refund. If wrong, then we will praise MORE for following the regulation, as consumer advocates group,” he added.