Yanson feud – Causings went to court-8

By Modesto P. Sa-onoy

The disconnection of the electricity supply to the apartment occupied by the Causing couple was not only a violation of the law but utter disregard for the sufferings that their victims might have to undergo. Note that the detachment of power supply was done in July at the height of the pandemic when the movement of people was strictly curtailed. And as all have experienced, the days were long and the temperatures were high.

Thus, the actuations of Ceneco personnel added to the trauma of the moment. Can this harrowing experience be compensated? Was Olivia Yanson or her enforcers comfortable with this kind of treatment for a fellow man? I wonder if she was happy to have inflicted anguish and pain on the couple whose only fault was that they got into the crossfire of the Yanson family war.

In yesterday’s citation of the Magna Carta for the protection of electric power consumers, I quoted the provision that “request of the registered customers based on justifiable reasons” can be a reason to cut off the power supply.”

What “justifiable reason” or emergency situation did the enforcers of Olivia Yanson give to Ceneco that with unusual speed they moved out in the middle of the pandemic and lockdowns to detach the power supply to the Causing apartment? Was this uncommon haste propelled by a so compelling reason, like a fire breaking out, that Ceneco disregarded prudence and consideration of the consequences of their actions to accommodate the request?

Considering the usual sluggishness of Ceneco personnel, does not their hasty action against Nico Causing raise the suspicion that some people had enough inducements to close their eyes to the provisions of the law they ought to know by heart?

I am reminded of the words of English dramatist of the 19th century, Douglas William Jerrold who said, “Honest bread is very well; it’s the butter that makes the temptation.” Ah, the butter! If this quote be not appropriate, pray tell the public the reason for this unusual behavor by the Ceneco personnel. Of course, since a criminal case had been filed against them they will have to give a “justifiable reason” under oath.

But even so, if they could come up with “justifiable reason”, they are not exempt from the mandate of the law that there should be proper notice to disconnect which, according to the complaint, was not given. Forty-eight hours’ notice of disconnection, I think is the requirement even for those who have not paid their bills. But Nico had paid his bill on time.

Is there another justifiable reason? There is one I can think of that seems fitting – a police operation in a structure or edifice where a crime was ongoing or terrorists are hiding and the police needed to cut off the power supply as a matter of procedure.

Was this the reason there were policemen and armed security men assisting Ceneco? The thought that the couple with an infant could be committing a crime or about to commit a crime that armed men had to be brought in is beyond intelligence. But that is exactly what Ceneco did.

It might do well for the couple to secure a police operation order to justify the presence of the Bacolod police in this case. Of course, we know that the Bacolod police has been under the thumb of the Yanson 3 that they were able to muscle into the Ceres compound and forcibly eject the Yanson 4 without any court order.

“The Ceneco incident,” the criminal complaint said, “proved to be the proverbial hay that broke the camel’s back, as the Couple decided to relocate to another apartment after that equally horrible incident.  Complainants decided to move out of the Unit the following day, as the condition in the unit has proven to be very challenging, unbearable and unsafe, especially for their one-year-old Syrus.”

The enforcers succeeded in ejecting the couple – they were helpless and clearly unable to get police protection or assistance from the officials of the subdivision. As the sarcasm goes, “who will help us from the police?”

The forcible ejectment was too much for the couple who lead a peaceful life. They were abruptly thrown out. They had no recourse.

Continued tomorrow.