NOTWITHSTANDING public howl over its alleged overcharging, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) managed to secure congressional concurrence for a 25-year extension of its franchise “in the dead of the night.” For one, Meralco’s exorbitant charges allowed the Philippines to surpass Singapore in the list of Southeast Asian Countries with the highest electricity rate. Lawyer Wilfredo Garrido, in his Facebook post, said that approval or renewal of a public utility franchise requires transparency through public hearings, which...