Txtpower eyes charges vs NTC execs

Dismayed over the agency's decision, consumer group TXTPower is planning to hale National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) commissioners before the Ombudsman for dismissing their complaint against Globe Telecom's unlimited text rate promo. In a statement on its website, TXTPower questioned the grounds of the NTC in dismissing its complaint against Globe's 100 percent increase in the rates of its unlimited text promo last February. "The NTC dismissed our complaint on highly questionable grounds, by obscenely parroting Globe Telecom's dangerous claim that we do not have a legal personality to file a complaint in the first place," said TXTPower convenor Anthony Ian Cruz. Cruz said charges may be brought against NTC officials over the fiasco, including the NTC's refusal to implement a written order from the Commissioner and a cease-and-desist order issued by the Commission en banc in connection with the TXTPower complaint. "The NTC obviously allowed Globe to ignore and violate its order and thus caused irreparable injury against consumers. By not enforcing its orders, the NTC allowed Globe to continue with its price hike. This is an issue which the Ombudsman should check," Cruz said. Cruz said the NTC's "horrible" decision was borrowed entirely from Globe's motion to dismiss TXTPower's complaint. He added that any citizen or group of citizens have a right to redress of grievances and should be heard by government, especially agencies such as the NTC. Last January, the NTC approved Globe's price hike that saw unlimited texting rates go up from P50 for five days to P80 for four days. This means that the rate went up from P10 to P20 if computed on a per day basis. The NTC dismissed TxtPower's complaint against Globe, saying the consumer group was "lacking of legal personality ... to sue and to be sued." However, TXTPower insisted that No hearing was conducted to solicit public sentiments on the matter. "We will appeal this decision not only because it dismissed our complaint on questionable grounds. More importantly, it fails to explain why the NTC approved the 100 percent price increase and why the NTC issued but did not enforce two orders directing Globe to suspend the price hike," Cruz said. "In a sense, the NTC did a Pontius Pilate with its decision. By unjustly dismissing the complaint, the NTC further beats up TXTPower and consumers while letting Globe and the agency itself off the hook," he added. - GMANews.TV