Yanson feud – Causings went to court-6

By Modesto P. Sa-onoy

As mentioned earlier, the traumatic experiences of Nico Causing, his wife Shean and Baby Syrus, was due to the arbitrary and sudden severance of their two vital necessities – water and electricity. We discussed the actions of Baciwa and now let’s consider the claimed capricious manner in which Ceneco cut off power supply to the apartment occupied by their victims.

According to the complaint, referring to Ceneco, “this time around, however, their numbers were not only overkill, they also came with armed guards and police escorts. Respondents may have thought, quite erroneously though, that the Couple would be prepared, this time, to put up a more determined resistance. This would explain, more probably, why respondents decided to bring along with them added police protection and the seemingly treacherous strategy of giving NO NOTICE/INFORMATION to Complainants.”

It is extremely unusual that Ceneco personnel planning to cut off power to a house in a high-end subdivision, with its security and sense of exclusivity would mobilize armed men just to cut off an electricity supply to one apartment unit. While Nico’s complaint called this an overkill, I consider it a raw display of arrogance, a showing off of power.

Indeed, did Ceneco personnel come to the subdivision expecting an armed resistance? And what did the subdivision security unit, supposedly to safeguard its residents that pay for their salaries and perks, do to protect the association members, at least to keep armed men at a distance and on-call only? Why would Ceneco personnel come fully armed if they believed they were doing right? Were the subdivision guards insufficient to keep the peace?

I remember the time when Ceneco tried to cut off the power supply at the Bacolod City Hall because the city owed Ceneco millions in unpaid electric bills. The Ceneco personnel did not secure a police escort or come out with armed guards to execute a lawful demand. Why? Because they were up against a stronger power.

When Ceneco wanted to cut off power supply in a squatters’ area where several houses had not paid their bills or had illegal connections, understandably Ceneco would come with police escorts. Why? Because they know they could get mauled or stoned.

But in a posh subdivision? Did they expect a young man, his wife and one-year-old baby to harm them physically? I don’t think so; their armed escorts, tolerated by subservient subdivision officials, were more of braggadocio, to impress whoever was the mastermind of their actions. You can guess who they want to please.

I recall a story of a very powerful man whose retinue always wanted to impress him with how loyal they were. To test their devotion, the powerful man asked whether they would obey him if he asked them to jump out of the window. One bootlicker quickly replied, “From what floor, sir!”

So here in the case of Nico, did the Ceneco personnel want to show how obedient they are and perchance gain good points from OIivia Yanson? For what? Your guess is as good as mine as we know the depth of human weakness.

The complaint further stated, “The presence of Pugoy supervising the highly illegal and irregular disconnection operation carried out under the official seal of Ceneco would only buttress the view that this is all part of respondents’ grand criminal strategy of forcibly evicting Complainants from the Unit, without securing the requisite and proper court order, just so respondents can deliver the Unit to OVY in a silver platter.”

The complaint’s reference to the “silver platter” made notorious in the Holy Writ, indicate the extent to which Ceneco would please Olivia Yanson. I am certain they don’t go to this far under normal circumstances, but the beneficiary of the severance of power supply is clearly Olivia who cannot wait for the due process of law to get the Causings ejected.

A family without potable water connection has recourse to buying bottled water, even for washing, but when electric connections are cut, that is a grave matter. One cannot buy electricity or get another company to supply. Ceneco is government monopoly. The only recourse is the candle or a kinki (kerosene lamp) with its poisonous smoke and danger of fire.

We continue on October 28.