More Electric and Power Corp. said it is investigating the possible “sabotage” of its distribution facilities that led to the extended unscheduled power interruptions in Iloilo City over the weekend.
MORE said it received reports at 9:59 p.m. on Saturday of alleged “mysterious” loose connections along the primary wire traversing Q. Abeto Street, Mandurriao across Iloilo Supermart leading to trip offs of the Mandurriao Feeder 4.
“Although we are still waiting for the official confirmation of our response team regarding the possible sabotage of our electricity network, we hope you will accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience you’ve experienced due to this incident,” the company said in a statement to customers.
“We know how it is important at this time of the pandemic to have a stable power supply and this failure to better serve you was a frustration to us all. Thank you for your patience and your faith in us to arrest this problem while we enlisted the help of several additional specialists to take appropriate action and serve you better and more efficiently,” the new distributor of Iloilo said.
MORE Power Response Teams initiated the restoration of power on the affected area but trip offs occurred even more at the same area shortly after.
The company’s RT reports said an immediate re-investigation of the affected area showed loose connections in various points in the immediate network.
MORE Power said the restoration efforts also went futile because of another set of mysterious successive tripping, which the company deems as an attack against the electrical system.
MORE Power’s finding showed that the causes of abnormalities were detached primary line from pin insulator near J7 Hotel; overheated connector near The Mango Tree Restaurant; damaged suspension insulator along Oñate De Leon Street; damaged primary line conductor across Chicken Sari-Sari and damaged suspension insulator and primary jumper/dropping wire near McDonald’s Megaworld.Alena Mae S. Flores
MORE Power said it was not discounting the possibility that some individuals or groups were out to discredit them with the series and the pattern of “mysterious trip offs” as related incidents have been a recurring since they took over the power distribution in the city of Iloilo.
“Sabotage is possible, but we cannot deny the fact that dilapidated electric poles, sagging lines and overloaded transformers of PECO [Panay Electric Co.] that were passed on to MORE Power continue to deteriorate and therefore pose a major threat to the lives and the property of our consumers, which is why the rehabilitation and upgrade of these equipment is now our topmost priority,” said MORE Power spokesman Jonathan Cabrera.
MORE Power customers also expressed outrage over the possible sabotage of Iloilo City’s distribution facility during the time of a pandemic, expressing their concerns over social media.