Village officials face power pilferage raps

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

 

MORE Power, the distribution utility in Iloilo City, will file charges against a village chief and a council member for allegedly stealing electricity.

The distribution utility claimed that its apprehension team caught Punong Barangay Rey Jalbuena and Kagawad Elmer Jareño of Democracia, Jaro illegally tapping to the secondary distribution line.

The team reported that it found jumpers or illegal connections to an electricity pole beside Jalbuena’s house located near the barangay gymnasium.

When they traced the line, they found that it was connected to the village chief’s house. But Jalbuena was not at home during the operation.

Further investigation led the team to another illegal connection that was traced to a parlor that was renting in Jalbuena’s place. They later learned that Jareño owned the parlor.

MORE Power reported that Jareño admitted to using the jumper and that he knew that his action was illegal.

Jareño said he applied for an account with MORE Power but has no idea of the status as he asked someone else to process his application.

MORE Power has disconnected the jumpers and seized the wires and alligator clips which will be used as evidence in the case it will file against the two officials.

Daily Guardian is still trying to get the side of the two officials as of this writing.

On Tuesday, MORE Power apprehended 27 households that were allegedly caught stealing electricity.

20 households are located at Brgy. Hipodromo, City Proper while 7 are in Bo. Obrero, Lapuz.

MORE Power personnel claimed to have caught the families tapping to the secondary line in a series of operations 4 am Tuesday.

Republic Act 7832 (Anti-Pilferage of Electricity and Theft of Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Act of 1994) penalizes violators with prision mayor (six months and one day to six years) or a fine ranging from P10,000 to P20,000, or both, at the discretion of the court.