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Palace brushes off Judy Ann Santos’ system loss defense
Written by staff   
Thursday, 05 June 2008 06:10

{mosimage}Malacañang on Wednesday brushed off a television advertisement in which actress Judy Ann Santos explains that passing on the systems loss of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to its consumers is legal, saying the bottomline remains lower power rates.

But in the House, Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr., an administration ally, said Santos may have violated the Consumer Act by what he described as her “irresponsible statement.”

Nevertheless, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita indirectly acknowledged Santos’ popularity, cautioning the public: "Uulitin ko, taumbayan ang maghuhusga. Tayo ba ay maapektuhan ng nagsasalita in behalf or Meralco dahil magandang dalaga o lalaki ang nagsasabi, o iyong katotohanan pa rin pagdating ng resibo? Bumaba ba o tumaas ang electricity? Iyon ang mahalaga [Let me repeat, the people will judge. Shall we be swayed by the one who speaks on behalf of Meralco because the speaker is beautiful or handsome, or by the truth that arrives with the bill? Is electricity cheaper or more expensive? That is the important thing]." The government, through the Department of Trade and Industry, has questioned before the Energy Regulatory Commission Meralco’s contention that passing on the system loss is legal.

Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and general manager Winston Garcia is also waging a campaign to takeover Meralco, saying it is to bring down power rates.

Ermita said he finds nothing wrong with Meralco's using Santos to defend its position since the firm has the money to spend.

However, he said this might indicate Meralco realizes it is fighting an uphill battle.

"Pag gumamit ng high-level personality, sigurado na alam nila na malaki ang hinaharap nila kaya kailangan na gamitan ng magandang arsenal sa public information [Once they start using a high-level personality, surely they realize the immensity of what they face therefore they need to use a good public information arsenal]," Ermita said.

Asked if the government would also use an endorser to project its position, he replied: "Let's see. I'm not involved in that. Tingnan natin kung karapat-dapat tapatan [Let’s see if we need to go tit-for-tat], we can use everybody."

In the House, Abante, taking the floor, said Article 110 of the Consumers Act might be applied to Santos’ likening the systems loss to ice melting in transit from one store to another.

Article 110 states that “it shall be unlawful for any person to disseminate or to cause the dissemination of any false, deceptive or misleading advertisement by Philippine mail or in commence by print, radio, television, outdoor advertisement or other medium for the purpose of inducing or which is likely to induce directly or indirectly the purchase of consumer products or services.”

“Nauunawaan po kaya ni Judy Ann ang kanyang sinabi? Kitang kita po na kanyang kinampihan ang Meralco laban sa mga consumers na siguro karamihan ay kanyang mga fans din, mga kaibigan [Does Judy Ann understand what she said? I myself saw her defend Meralco against the consumers, most of whom probably are also her fans, her friends],” Abante said in his personal and collective privilege speech.

“Judy Ann may not realize the consequence of her action. I am concerned that Judy Ann was blindly convinced [to take on] her role for reasons only known to her and Meralco,” he said.

Even if the systems loss includes losses to pilferage, Abante said Santos’ advertisement remained deceptive and misleading because melting ice is an act of nature while theft or pilferage is a “voluntary, intentional and criminal act.”

“Therefore, one could not, as it should not be, compared with the other,” the Manila solon said

“I am afraid that Article 110 of the Consumers Act may be applied to the irresponsible statement of Judy Ann Santos. Her statement is clearly against public interest,” Abante said.

Abante urged his colleagues to not only look into the real components of the systems loss but to also consider amending or even repealing the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.

If needed, Abante said, the House should also condemn Meralco and Santos for the “deceitful, misleading and untruthful advertisement.”

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